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. 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, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2: 25-32

A few years ago, I spent a few minutes with a professional acquaintance who gives thought to spiritual matters, and while we don’t always see things eye to eye, the conversations are engaging and challenging.

Once, after discussing the kind of lived-out-faith he witnessed as his pastor faced a terminal brain tumor, he mentioned, almost in passing, that most of the people in his practice claim no real faith. They may have a concept of God, but no real sense of faith. Their lives are empty. They have no purpose.

Contrast this lack of faith to the example of Simeon above. Luke describes him as a righteous man completely devoted to God who lived in the presence of the Holy Spirit. This man listened to the Spirit and, in faith, went to the temple to see the child, Jesus. His life of faith was rewarded and he recognized that not only would Christ be the glory of Israel, but “a light for revelation to the Gentiles (all of us).”

Does Simeon’s account encourage you? What kind of joy might we experience if we listen to the Spirit and follow God’s word in our lives like Simeon?

How can we expect to be led by the Spirit, to hear the voice of God if we are never quiet? If we never wait in His presence?