5 Day Devotional The Beauty of Being Eccentric for Christ

Day 1: The Beauty of Being Eccentric for Christ

Devotional
Have you ever met someone who just seemed different because of their faith? Maybe they talked about God a little too much for your comfort, or they seemed to find Jesus in every conversation. The world might call them odd, but there's something beautiful about people who are so captivated by Christ that they can't help but stand out.

Simeon was one of these people. He was righteous and devout, spending his days in the temple, waiting for God's promise to unfold. While others went about their daily routines, Simeon lived with an expectant heart, knowing that God had promised he would see the Messiah before he died. His devotion might have seemed excessive to some, but it positioned him to recognize the most important moment in human history.

Being eccentric for Christ isn't about being weird for the sake of being different. It's about being so filled with love for Jesus that your passion naturally overflows into your daily life. It's about having such confidence in God's promises that you live differently than those around you. When we give ourselves permission to be passionate about our faith, we open ourselves up to see God moving in ways others might miss.

The world needs more people who are willing to be different for Jesus. Not obnoxious or judgmental, but genuinely excited about what God is doing. When we live with this kind of authentic enthusiasm for our faith, we become beacons of hope in a world that desperately needs to see the reality of God's love.

Bible Verse
'Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.' - Luke 2:25-27

Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to be more 'eccentric for Christ' in your daily life, and what fears or concerns hold you back from living with that kind of passionate faith?

Quote
I think we all ought to give one another permission to be eccentric for Christ. I think we ought to give one another encouragement to stand out for Christ.

Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to be different for You. Help me to live with such genuine love and excitement for who You are that others can't help but notice. Remove any fear of what others might think and fill me with the same expectant heart that Simeon had. Amen.

Day 2: Living with Holy Expectation

Devotional
Imagine waking up every morning knowing that today could be the day God fulfills His greatest promise to you. That's how Simeon lived. Every sunrise brought him closer to the moment he had been waiting for his entire life. Every ache in his aging body reminded him that he was one step closer to seeing the Messiah.
Simeon didn't know exactly when or how the Messiah would appear, but he knew the Scriptures promised His arrival. This wasn't wishful thinking or blind optimism – it was faith anchored in God's Word. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, Simeon lived in anticipation of God's faithfulness.

This kind of holy expectation transforms how we approach each day. When we truly believe that God is active and working in our world, we start looking for Him everywhere. We pay attention to the people He brings across our path. We notice opportunities to be His hands and feet. We live with an awareness that God might use us in unexpected ways.

Living with expectation doesn't mean we become passive, waiting for God to do everything. Instead, it means we become more attentive to His leading. Like Simeon, who was moved by the Spirit to go to the temple at just the right moment, we position ourselves to be available for God's purposes.

What promises of God are you waiting to see fulfilled? How might living with greater expectation change the way you approach your relationships, your work, and your daily routines?

Bible Verse
'On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.' - Luke 2:21

Reflection Question
How can you cultivate a heart of holy expectation that looks for God's movement in your everyday circumstances, and what specific promises of God are you waiting to see fulfilled?

Quote
He didn't know who Christ was, but he knew his scriptures promised his arrival, and he longed for it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

Prayer
Father, help me to live each day with the same expectant heart that Simeon had. Open my eyes to see You working around me, and give me faith to believe that You are always faithful to Your promises. Help me to be ready and available for whatever You want to do through me today. Amen.

Day 3: Recognizing God in Unexpected Places

Devotional
When Simeon finally encountered the Messiah, it wasn't what anyone would have expected. No royal procession, no military might, no wealth or fanfare. Just a peasant couple holding a baby who probably still smelled of the manger where He was born. Yet Simeon immediately recognized this child as the fulfillment of everything he had been waiting for.

How easy it would have been to miss this moment! If Simeon had been looking for earthly power or impressive displays, he would have walked right past the most important person who ever lived. But because Simeon was led by the Spirit and had his heart tuned to God's ways, he saw what others couldn't see.

God often works in ways that surprise us. He uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He shows up in humble circumstances rather than grand spectacles. He speaks through quiet whispers rather than loud announcements. When we're looking for God only in the impressive or dramatic, we might miss Him entirely.

The same Spirit that led Simeon to recognize Jesus is available to guide us today. When we're sensitive to His leading, we begin to see God's hand in the everyday moments of life. We recognize His presence in the smile of a stranger, the kindness of a friend, or the unexpected opportunity to serve someone in need.

Being led by the Spirit means staying open to God's surprises. It means looking beyond the surface to see what God might be doing in situations that seem ordinary or even disappointing.

Bible Verse
'Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.' - Luke 2:28-32

Reflection Question
Where might God be working in your life in ways that seem ordinary or unexpected, and how can you become more sensitive to the Spirit's leading in recognizing His presence?

Quote
He sees not military might. He doesn't see royalty. He doesn't see wealth. He sees a peasant couple holding a baby.

Prayer
Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see You working in unexpected places and through ordinary circumstances. Help me not to miss Your presence because I'm looking for something more impressive. Guide me to recognize Your hand in the simple moments of life, and make me sensitive to Your leading. Amen.

Day 4: The Choice That Reveals Our Hearts

Devotional
Simeon's prophecy about Jesus was both beautiful and sobering. He declared that this child was destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel – that Jesus would be a sign that would be spoken against, revealing the thoughts of many hearts. In other words, how people respond to Jesus would expose what was really inside them.

This truth is just as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. Jesus still causes people to either fall or rise. Some encounter Him and find hope, forgiveness, and new life. Others meet Him and turn away, uncomfortable with His claims on their lives. The difference isn't in Jesus – He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. The difference is in our hearts and how we choose to respond.

Jesus has a way of bringing our true selves to the surface. He reveals our pride, our fears, our deepest longings, and our greatest needs. This can be uncomfortable, but it's also the pathway to freedom. When we allow Jesus to expose the thoughts of our hearts, we create space for His healing and transformation.

The question isn't whether Jesus will reveal something about your heart – He will. The question is how you'll respond when He does. Will you humble yourself and allow Him to work in those revealed areas? Or will you resist His gentle conviction and turn away?

Jesus came not to condemn but to save. When He reveals the thoughts of our hearts, it's always with the purpose of bringing healing and restoration.

Bible Verse
'Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."' - Luke 2:33-35

Reflection Question
What has your relationship with Christ revealed about your heart, and how are you responding to the areas He's bringing to light in your life?

Quote
What has your relationship with Christ revealed about you?

Prayer
Jesus, I invite You to reveal the thoughts of my heart. Help me not to be afraid of what You might show me, but to trust that Your purpose is always to heal and restore. Give me the courage to face whatever You reveal and the faith to believe that You can transform every area of my life. Amen.

Day 5: Receiving the Gift of Christmas

Devotional
Simeon's long wait was finally over. The Messiah he had longed to see had arrived, and he had been privileged to hold Him in his own arms. But Simeon's story raises an important question for us: Jesus has already come, we celebrated His birthday just days ago, but have we truly received Him?

It's possible to know about Jesus without actually receiving Him. We can celebrate Christmas, sing the carols, and enjoy the traditions without ever personally accepting what His coming means for our lives. Simeon didn't just observe the Messiah from a distance – he took Him into his arms and made Him personal.

Receiving Jesus means more than acknowledging His historical existence or even believing in His divinity. It means welcoming Him as partner in your daily decisions, as forgiver of your sins, as Savior of your soul, and as Lord of your life. It means giving Him the driver's seat instead of trying to maintain control yourself.

Many people are comfortable with Jesus as a baby in a manger or even as a teacher and example. But are you willing to receive Him as the one who has the right to direct your steps, influence your choices, and transform your priorities? This is where the rubber meets the road in our faith.

The beautiful truth is that Jesus is still available to be received. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, you can take Him into your arms today just as Simeon did. You can make this Christmas season the time when you truly receive all that He offers.

Bible Verse
'He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.' - John 1:11

Reflection Question
In what specific areas of your life do you need to more fully receive Jesus as partner, forgiver, Savior, and Lord, and what would it look like to give Him the driver's seat in those areas?

Quote
Have you received him as partner, as forgiver, as Savior? In your own heart? Have you received him as lordship? Have you received him into the driver's seat of your own life?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to receive You fully into every area of my life. Help me to welcome You not just as the baby in the manger, but as my partner, forgiver, Savior, and Lord. Take the driver's seat of my life and help me to trust You completely. Thank You for the gift of Your presence. Amen.