Simeon is one of those people in the Christmas story that many would over look. However, as I read through the Christmas story, I’m drawn to the brief mentioning of Simeon in Luke 2:25-35.

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven and before the Holy Spirit was given to believers, in Luke2:25, we read that the Holy Spirit was with Simeon, revealing things to Simeon (Luke 2:26) and moving or prompting Simeon (Luke 2:27).

What a precious gift we have been given in the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through these few verses about Simeon, we learn not just about Simeon, but also about how the Holy Spirit can work with us.

As I read Simeon’s story in these ten verses, I noticed in verse 27 it says, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.” That made me think – what if Simeon hadn’t acting on that prompting from the Holy Spirit – Simeon could have missed meeting Jesus that day. How many God moments do we miss when we don’t follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives – when we allow our wills and wants to be more important than God’s will and wants for us?

Does the way we live our lives reflect the passion we say we have for God, or do our actions (or inactions) reveal the true nature of our feelings for God?  I think it’s not so much about our words as it is about our willingness to listen to God, to listen for God and being willing and open to act when He prompts us to.

Lifeway Research recently released the results of a survey that was focussed on Christians in Canada. You can read about it here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/november/new-research-state-of-discipleship-in-canada.html.

What’s interesting is that 66% of the people that participated in the study agreed with the statement, “I desire to please and honour Jesus in all I do.” but by the time they got to a statement about studying the Bible, 53% say they rarely or never study the Bible. Only 3% said they do in-depth Bible study on a daily basis.

We are nowhere near to using the full resources of what’s available to us as Christians through the Bible and the Holy Spirit.  I didn’t need a survey to arrive at that conclusion, but the numbers are very telling. Thanks Lifeway.

Two-thirds of the respondents to the survey want to please and honour Jesus in all they do. What would happen if more people who profess to be Christians actually started doing in-depth Bible study on a daily basis? What would happen if more Christians started listening and being willing to act when the Holy Spirit prompts them?

I don’t know the exact answer to those questions, but I think more people would experience moments like Simeon did that day in the temple courts when he got to meet Jesus. I also think that daily in-depth Bible study helps Christians live Biblically based lives.

If you have a sincere desire to please and honour Jesus and you aren’t studying your Bible daily at the moment, please consider checking out the link on this blog for online Bible studies for women – http://www.peacewithgod.ca/online-bible-studies-for-women/. Beyond looking at that web page, I hope you’re moved to action by joining us in daily Bible study.

It’s not overwhelming, or a major time commitment. Most women in the group say they can get through the material in 10 to 15 minutes a day. It’s a great way to dig in to God’s Word and start a new habit of spending time with God each and every day.

Simeon is a great example of what a close relationship with God can look like in everyday life.

I hope this post helps someone today.

Be blessed.