Journey to ChristmasEsimerkki

Moved by the Spirit

It’s our last day reflecting on the Christmas story from Luke’s Gospel, and today we meet Simeon, a man who had been waiting patiently for God to fulfil a promise.

Waiting for something that we want is never easy. In his letter to the church in Galatia, the apostle Paul describes patience as a fruit of the Spirit. Like a fruit, patience grows over time, in season and out of season.

Although every painting of this passage depicts Simeon as an older man, Luke doesn’t tell us whether he was old or not. Simeon may have been waiting for a short time or many years. All we know is that he was full of the Holy Spirit and that he was prepared to wait.

I ask myself, what am I waiting for at the moment? What am I hoping for and dreaming about?

Help me, God, to become more patient, to trust that You are with me – in season and out of season.

Pause and pray

I bring to mind those I know whose dreams have not come to pass; those who find it difficult to hope; those who need consolation. 

I ask You, God, to be with them today.

Pause and pray

Luke says that the Holy Spirit was ‘upon’ Simeon. Then Luke says that the Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died and that Simeon was fully and faithfully focused on the fulfilment of that promise. Finally, Luke says that when Simeon was ‘moved by the Holy Spirit,’ he went straight to the temple courts where he met Jesus.

How have I been aware of the Holy Spirit over the last few days? Am I allowing the Spirit to help me ‘fix my eyes on Jesus’ in this Christmas season? (Hebrews 12:2)

Holy Spirit, as I come to the end of this devotional, I yield to You. Help me to be more sensitive to You. Move me today, in whatever ways You need to, and bring me to Jesus.


Amen.