More on Simeon

Thursday, March 01, 2007
I want to go back to Simeon & Anna in Luke 2: 25-38 and attempt to relate it to today’s Christianity. It says Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. It also says he was a devout man so we can assume he was well versed in the rules and traditions of the law. It appears he knew there was more to all of this than he was getting from the law. He was looking for the Savior that was promised in all in all the writings and teachings he had read and heard. Can you relate to that in your own life?? You have been hearing about Jesus for years. You hear about His power, His healing but it only seems to be working in those around you but you never say anything because you don’t want to be looked down at for not getting it. After awhile you figure there is a problem with you and it’s never going to be like those others so you resign yourself to the fact that hopefully when you get to heaven it will all be equal. You continue to do all they tell you- go to church a lot- give money to keep things afloat – do good works spelled out for you by the leadership because they say God has given them a vision about it but they never seem to be involved in the work of carrying out that vision. All of this seems to be a real burden on your spirit but when you bring that up to those that are supposedly there to help [read deacons & elders] you are told that it’s your cross that you are to be picking up every day and you should not be complaining. When you ask about Jesus saying His burden is light you are told not to be a troublemaker and come under the authority of the leadership or you will be put out of the body. Because you have never been taught to hear from the Holy Spirit on your own you obey rather than face the thought of no fellowship. You hear of others in your church that are leaving because they say the Holy Spirit is leading them to other things. When you ask about that you are told they are troublemakers and to stay away from them.
Have you ever thought about what Jesus was weeping about in Luke 19:41?? He was weeping over the fact that the people didn’t know or accept him. The people were already religious but refused to accept Him because He didn’t fit the mold they had set up for Him. They had a lot of the same social problems in those days that we have today but Jesus seemed unconcerned and more interested in them knowing Him and understanding His mission. Even His close disciples didn’t understand till He went to the cross and rose from the dead. Even after He spent 40 days teaching them He told them to wait till the Holy Spirit got here before beginning. Look how ell that worked out. 3000 people the 1st day.
We are so into thinking we have a new vision and it is the only way that we cut yourself off from the rest of the body is they don’t instantly agree with us. Why is it that we never seem to understand that our new vision is something that the Holy Spirit gives us to help the body get stronger not tear it further apart?
The one thing that has become clear in my life is that we go nowhere [even though we think we are doing great] till we are willing to take everything we have learned or become in the world [natural talents and skills] to the cross and be willing to never pick it up again. There is no other truth except Jesus and if we are looking for anything anyplace else we are just fooling our self!!
Those of the old school must stop looking at those with a newer vision as though they are trying to steal something from us and those with the new vision must stop breaking away from those old folks even though it’s a hard row to plow. Just look at what Israel did to the prophets God sent them. Quit trying to begin new things that leave the other parts of the body behind. When’s the last time your body was able to operate with some of the parts missing??
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring you to the place where you can see Christ just as Simeon did. It’s not an easy road but well worth the effort!!

What say you???