God's Holy Fire: 'Righteously and Devoutly Waiting'

Saturday, December 23, 2023

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.
— Luke 2:25 NIV

Key Thought

Simeon is one of my favorite people in the Bible. I love how he was described: "righteous and devout." What a great way to be known and described! And Simeon was doing something I don't like to do: "He was waiting ..." But there was a reason he was waiting: He was going to get to see God's Messiah. As much as we can describe Simeon as righteously and devoutly waiting, a greater truth defines his life: the Holy Spirit. Luke describes the glorious moment when Simeon meets "the Lord's Messiah" (Luke 2:26) in terms of the Holy Spirit's work in Simeon — "the Holy Spirit was on him" (Luke 2:25), "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit ..." (Luke 2:26), and "Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts" (Luke 2:27), where he encountered Jesus as a baby. Of all the descriptions of Simeon that could apply to me, my deepest hope is that my life will be defined by the gracious presence, transformational power, and holy work of the Spirit of God within me! I thank God for older men and women who have influenced my life and who are like Simeon: righteous and devout, waiting for God's consolation, and influenced in every way by the Spirit's presence.

Today's Prayer

Father of mercies, God of all compassion, make Jesus known in me and through me so that others may know that Jesus has come. May others accept Jesus because his character and compassion are seen in the way I live my life as I am led by your Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 2:25 NIV — 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.

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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