WHAT’S IN A NAME? Simeon encounters baby Jesus (Luke 2:25-33)

Did you know that the name Simeon means LISTENING and OBEDIENT? And this is evidenced by Simeon’s character. Luke describes him as being ‘righteous and devout’ and waiting for ‘the consolation (hope) of Israel’. Moreover, he was a man so evidently in tune with the Holy Spirit for verses 25-26 says this: ‘the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple….’ That’s three mentions of the Holy Spirit in just two verses!

Had Simeon not been ‘listening and obedient’ would he have ever received the revelation concerning seeing the Lord’s Anointed One? Would he have been led of the Spirit into the Temple just at the right time, when Mary and Joseph had brought him there to present Him before the Lord? I doubt it!

It is a wonderful thing to be baptised in the Holy Spirit – what a world of possibilities it opens up to us! But to be led by the Spirit the way Simeon was requires a moment by moment walk in tune with the Lord, always listening and always ready to obey. This results in righteous living –keeping God’s commandments and having a true heart devotion.
What a reward Simeon received for believing and waiting on God’s promise, and what wonderful revelations likewise await us when we too are willing to live and walk in the realm of the Holy Spirit.

(Tomorrow in part two of ‘What’s in a Name?’ I will share about Anna – don’t miss it!)

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