At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God ….

Luke 2:25-28 (New Living Translation)

God has a funny way of telling us so much with so few words, doesn’t He? “Honor thy father and mother.” “Fear not.” “Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly.”

Simeon appears in the Bible only once, in Luke chapter two. The passage is not lengthy, but is full of instruction and inspiration for us. Luke records that Simeon was:
• Righteous and devout
• Eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come
• Led by the Spirit.
What an amazing bio! In my government and political career I have reviewed thousands of resumes and interviewed hundreds of candidates, but I have never seen a resume as strong as Simeon’s. If Luke were to review your life or my life, would he be able to describe us in those terms?

How better to honor our Lord at this Advent season than to focus our heart, mind and strength on Him and His purposes, to live in prayerful expectancy of His return and to be led daily by His Spirit.

Simeon lived his life with expectancy for the first coming of the Messiah, and in so doing provided the model for how we should live with expectancy for our Lord’s second coming. And on that day we will sing, just as the angels did who heralded His first arrival as a baby in a manger, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

– Susan Richmond Johnson
PBA Class of 1995
Managing Principal
The Ashcroft Group LLC