Simeon, an effective leader by the Spirit

To kick off our 19th annual Treasures of Hope Christmas Store, we're profiling individuals who played a role in the story of Jesus' birth in #12DaystoTreasures.

Wikipedia: Simeon in the Temple, by Rembrandt van Rijn

Simeon is a picture of the effective leader led by the Spirit of God. Simeon's willingness to devote himself to God and submit to the Lord's guidance placed him in the temple of Jerusalem at a momentous time, when the King of Heaven entered His temple as a babe. It was a must-see time at the temple, and Simeon was there:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been 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, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

    “Lord, now you are letting your  servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
    and for glory to your people Israel” Luke 2: 25-32 (ESV).

    for my eyes have seen your salvation 

    that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 

    a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

The passage says the Lord already had told Simeon he wouldn't die until he saw the Messiah, but if Simeon had had a prayerless day, if he had ignored the promptings of the Spirit and decided to stay home, he would have missed what he had been promised. Being led by the Spirit means showing up at the right place at the right time.

At Dallas Leadership Foundation, we can bear witness every day to the need to follow the Spirit of God. His guidance directs our ministry efforts on projects like the Treasures of Hope Christmas Store. 

Ask us how people received ministry at the store or how gifts from DLF were a specific answer to prayer. Ask us about people who met the Lord for the first time at the store or left full of hope and faith because of someone on our team, or one of our faithful volunteers, heeded the Spirit of the Lord.

 If Simeon hadn't followed the Spirit, he also wouldn't have given the words of revelation to Mary and Joseph, words that have meaning today -- thousands of years later. Luke writes:

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (v. 34, 35).

We don't want to miss our leadership assignment to serve families and function as conduits for the far-reaching purposes of God. During this Christmas season and beyond, may you also stay on course with the Spirit of God. He has amazing encounters in store for you!

If you want to donate toys and other items to Treasures of Hope so that we can make Christmas special for hundreds of Dallas families, please visit  our online store at dlftx.org.