“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

Anna came upon the scene when Jesus was being dedicated. We know two things about her. She was very old and she was spiritually sensitive. While others may have just seen another baby, she saw the fulfillment of every spiritual promise in the Old Testament. She didn’t keep the good news to herself; she “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Just a cursory reading of the Gospels pictures the deplorable state of religion in Jesus’ day. Sinners loved Him, the sick sought Him out and, strangely, the religious leaders opposed Him strongly. Eventually, the religious leaders manipulated the circumstances that led to Jesus’ crucifixion.

This elderly woman points out to us that even in corrupt days there is a faithful remnant that is looking for God to come on the scene. Not everyone was perverted by religious hostility, but some were looking for the Messiah to come. God was up to something and this godly woman got it! That’s the attitude God is still looking for. No matter what is happening in the culture around us we can still see God at work if we watch with spiritually alert eyes.