Luke 2:25-32 – 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.”
“Simeon also exemplifies how one can define life in terms of faithfully following God and serving him with joy and surrender. When his duty is done, he is ready to be with the Lord…Simeon’s sense of identification with doing God’s will and then surrendering to the timing of his own death shows just how committed he is to God’s timing. His attitude is paralleled by Paul in Philippians 1:21–26. Here is a servant who seeks only to do what God has called him to do. The timing of his life and death are in God’s hands.
“Furthermore, having seen Jesus and knowing him, Simeon is at peace. Everything else in his life pales in comparison. He has met Jesus, and the details of the rest of his life’s résumé are irrelevant. One’s walk with God and faithful service to him are what define everything else about life.” [Bock, Darrell L.. Luke (The NIV Application Commentary) (pp. 95-97). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.]
Spirit-filled expectations will put our whole life on the line for Jesus being revealed. Nothing else will matter, life is simply life for Jesus and His revealing God’s love to the world. He is better than life itself.
Worship: “He Shall Reign Forevermore” by Chris Tomlin – Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5UXgs6nvGM
Prayer: Father, teach me the way of faithful obedience and how to rely more and more on the Spirit’s leading in my life. Today, may I experience the Spirit-filled expectations that put everything on the line for Jesus. May nothing else be more important than Jesus and Him being known through my life. For He is truly better than life! I pray for my friends and family, my co-workers and neighbors, that they will come to know You and experience the fullness of your salvation in their lives. Please rescue them Lord, rescue them with your love and power. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
– TR
