Light To The Nations: Advent Finale

Send us Fan Mail

A quiet temple scene flips the world on its head: a child in his mother’s arms, two elderly prophets, and a promise big enough for every nation. We close our Advent journey by tracing a beam of hope from Isaiah’s “Arise, shine” to Luke’s account of Jesus presented in the temple, where Simeon and Anna testify that God keeps His word in real time, among ordinary people who choose obedience over noise.

Lauren and I read Isaiah 60:1–3, then move through Luke 2:21–40, pausing on the details that matter: Mary and Joseph honoring the law, the Spirit guiding Simeon’s steps, the tenderness of blessing paired with the gravity of prophecy. “A light to reveal God to the nations” is not soft sentiment—it is rescue that exposes and heals. We talk about how true hope refuses denial: it reveals deep motives, pierces illusions, and still offers joy. Anna’s decades of prayer remind us that hidden faithfulness can fuel public courage, and that praise often begins in long, quiet rooms.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we lean into watchfulness, prayer, and renewal. Expectancy becomes a daily ethic: read, reflect, act, and share. We thank you for walking with us through 25 days of Scripture and reflection, and we invite you to carry this light into your conversations, your choices, and your community. If the world feels dim, take heart—glory still rises over people who wait, worship, and welcome the King.

If this resonated, share it with a friend, subscribe for weekly episodes, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Your message might be the spark someone needs today.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:04):
Hey, welcome to Renewed Mindsets.
I'm Rick, and I'm so glad you'rehere.
Now, this is something special.
For the next 25 days, we'regonna slow down, we're gonna
quiet our hearts, and we'regonna turn our eyes towards
Jesus as we walk through Adventtogether.
Now, every day we'll take a fewminutes to breathe and reflect

(00:27):
and remember the hope that cameinto the world and the hope
that's coming again.
Hey, welcome back to RenewedMindsets.
We're about to wrap up theAdvent Bible reading in the next
couple days.
I've got Lauren back with ustoday.

SPEAKER_01 (00:46):
Hey guys, good to be back.

SPEAKER_00 (00:48):
Isn't it awesome?
We get to close all this outwith Lauren.
Um, we're in John 3.16, ofcourse everybody knows that one
through verse 21.
Go ahead.
Hey, welcome back to RenewedMindsets.
This is the final day of theAdvent Bible reading.

(01:09):
Today it's light to the nations,and we've got a couple verses.
Lauren and I are gonna tag teamthis one for you, and we'll talk
to you after it's over.
Go ahead, Lauren.

SPEAKER_01 (01:22):
So we're gonna be in Isaiah chapter 60, verses one
through three.
Arise, Jerusalem, let your lightshine for all to see, for the
glory of the Lord rises to shineon you.
Darkness as black as nightcovers all the nations of the
earth, but the glory of the Lordrises and appears over you.
All nations will come to yourlight, mighty kings will come to

(01:43):
see your radiance.

SPEAKER_00 (01:45):
So now we're also in Luke chapter two, verses
twenty-one through forty.
And we'll start off with whereJesus is presented in the
temple.
Eight days later, when the babywas circumcised, he was named
Jesus, the name given to him bythe angel even before he was
conceived.
Then it was time for theirpurification offering, as

(02:08):
required by the law of Mosesafter the birth of a child.
So his parents took him toJerusalem to present him to the
Lord.
The law of the Lord says, if awoman's first child is a boy, he
must be dedicated to the Lord.
So they offered the sacrificerequired by the law of the Lord.
Either a pair of turtle doves ortwo young pigeons.

(02:30):
The prophecy of Simeon.
At that time there was a man inJerusalem named Simeon.
He was righteous and devout, andwas eagerly awaiting for the
Messiah to come and rescueIsrael.
The Holy Spirit was upon him,and had revealed to him that he
would not die until he had seenthe Lord's Messiah.
That day the Spirit led him tothe temple.

(02:52):
So when Mary and Joseph came topresent the baby Jesus to the
Lord as the law required, Simeonwas there.
He took the child in his armsand praised God, saying,
Sovereign Lord, now let yourservant die in peace, as you
have promised.
I have seen your salvation,which you have prepared for all
people.

(03:12):
He is a light to reveal God tothe nations, and he is the glory
of your people Israel.
Jesus' parents were amazed atwhat was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them, and hesaid to Mary, the baby's mother,
This child is destined to causemany in Israel to fall, and many
others to rise.

(03:33):
He has been sent as a sign fromGod, but many will oppose him.
As a result, the deepestthoughts of many hearts will be
revealed, and a sword willpierce your very soul.
The prophecy of Anna.
Anna, a prophet, was also therein the temple.
She was the daughter of Fanuel,of the tribe of Asher, and she

(03:58):
was very old.
Her husband died when they hadbeen married only seven years.
Then she lived as a widow to theage of eighty-four.
She never left the temple butstayed there day and night,
worshiping God with fasting andprayer.
She came along just as Simeonwas talking with Mary and
Joseph, and she began praisingGod.

(04:18):
She talked about the child toeveryone who had been waiting
expectantly for God to rescueJerusalem.
When Jesus' parents hadfulfilled all the requirements
of the law to the Lord, theyreturned home to Nazareth in
Galilee.
There the child grew up healthyand strong.
He was filled with wisdom, andGod's favor was on him.

(04:40):
Amen.
We have made it to the end ofAdvent.

SPEAKER_01 (04:45):
I'm still sad about it.

SPEAKER_00 (04:47):
It is sad, but it's exciting because we read for 24
days and we led right up to thispoint, which is tomorrow when we
celebrate the birth of ourSavior.

SPEAKER_01 (04:58):
That's true.
That's true.

SPEAKER_00 (04:59):
It is.
So we love you.
I appreciate everybody listeningin every day and taking this
journey with us.
Uh mark your calendars nextyear, December 1st.
We're going to just replay thisbecause it's too good for
everybody to only hear once.
Yeah.
So we'll see you.

(05:19):
Well, we'll see you every weekbecause we want you back every
week.
But Advent's again for anotheryear.
Enjoy your Christmas.
Have a Merry Christmas.
I hope the Lord blesses each andevery one of you.

SPEAKER_01 (05:33):
Merry Christmas, y'all.
I love you so much.

SPEAKER_00 (05:35):
Love you.
Bye.

SPEAKER_01 (05:37):
Bye.

SPEAKER_00 (05:42):
All right.
Thanks for joining me today onRenewed Mindsets.
As we walk through Advent, let'sstay expectant.
Let's stay watching, praying,and keeping our hearts ready for
the one who came and the onewho's coming again soon.
I love you.
Let's keep our minds renewed andour eyes on Jesus.

(06:04):
The executive producer ofRenewed Mindsets is Christy
McCurry.
That's all for today, but I'llbe back with more unfiltered
biblical truth and undeniableprophecy.
The time to wake up is now.
If today's episode challengedyou, don't keep it to yourself.
Tell someone, please, text thema link.

(06:28):
Share the truth while there'sstill time.
Visit renewedmindsets.com tostay connected and to listen to
past episodes.
And check out our merch atrenewedmindsets.store.
Jesus is coming soon.
Stay watchful.
Stay holy.
Stay renewed.

(06:49):
Until next week, I'm Rick.
Be an encourager, not adiscourager.
I love you.
See ya.

(07:09):
The intro and outro music forthe Renewed Mindsets podcast is
Are You Ready by Floodgate.
From the album Are You Ready?
Copyright 2002, OffbeatMinistries Incorporated.
Floodgate can be found on AppleMusic and iTunes.
Music used with permission.