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anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 21 December 2025 – Just Before Your Last Breath

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TOPIC: Just Before Your Last Breath

READ: Luke 2:25-35 (NKJV)

  1. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
  2. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
  3. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
  4. he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
  5. “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
  6. For my eyes have seen Your salvation
  7. Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
  8. A light to [bring] revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
  9. And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
  10. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this [Child] is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against
  11. “(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

THE MESSAGE:

We read in Hebrews 9:27 thus, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Until Christ’s Second Coming, each one of us will continue to keep an appointment with death, that is, breathe our last breath. This was the experience of Simeon, a devout Jew who was looking for the ‘consolation’ or salvation (Luke 2:30) of Israel. And in verse 26 we read that the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. True to this revelation, Simeon saw the infant Jesus as He was brought to the temple by Joseph and Mary to dedicate Him. Simeon recognized Him to be the Messiah and prophesied concerning the Child (the Nunc Dimittis) and Mary His mother. Simeon could now die (breathe his last breath) in peace after seeing Jesus, who is the salvation of Israel (verse 29).

Beloved, like Simeon, we must resolve to have a personal encounter with Jesus before we take our last breath and depart this world. Not to do so is to miss the inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – an inheritance kept in heaven for Christians (1 Peter 1:4). Be reminded that there is no repentance in the grave. Now is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late.

PRAYER: Father; help me work out my salvation with fear and trembling before I breathe my last.

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