Tag: Simeon

advent, Bible, Christian Writer, christmas, Jesus, Names of Christ, The Word of God

ADVENT 8 : JESUS – CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

joymargetts

SIMEON

There is a little story in Luke 2:25-30 that introduces us to Simeon. Simeon was an old man, a devout lover of God who had waited for years for the promised Messiah. He was led to be in the Temple by the Holy Spirit at just the moment that Jesus’ parents arrived with the infant Christ, and got to hold his Messiah in his arms and to prophesy over Him

Painting of Simeon, the infant Christ, Joseph and Mary in the Temple. An old man with a long white beard holds a baby in his arms. Alongside him are a young woman and man looking lovingly at the child. Others look on.

CONSOLATION: COMFORT

Luke tells us that Simeon was waiting expectantly for the ‘Consolation of Israel’. Now the word ‘consolation’ can be translated as ‘comfort’, ‘help’ or ‘encouragement’ and that is great. At the time of Jesus’ birth, Israel was in dire need of comfort, help and encouragement and it was no wonder that Christ was longed for. He is the bringer of comfort. Elsewhere in scripture we are promised the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9 : 31), the comfort of the Scriptures (Psalm 119:50) and the comfort of God Himself (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Text of 2 Corinthians 1:3, within a wreath of evergreen and berries

ADVOCATE

But a more exact translation of the word ‘consolation’ is ‘advocate’: it has legal implication. It is the one ready to stand by your side before the judge and give evidence on your behalf. Applying this to the person of Jesus makes much more sense. Yes, He would be the bringer of comfort, but He was also coming as an advocate.

He is our advocate before the Great Judge, His Father. He is our great High Priest (Hebrews 4 :14). What a comfort it is to picture Him standing beside us before God. When we know we need someone to speak on our behalf, because we mess up so easily. What a consolation to our troubled spirits, when guilt and shame threaten, to know that He gave His life, so that we can be free of those once and for all. He is our great encourager, our consolation.

Thank Him for being your consolation, in every sense of the word.

Text of Hebrews 4:14, within a wreath of evergreen and berries

Image of front cover of the book The Pilgrim

Where can I go from your Spirit? He had read that. He couldn’t remember when, but now he could almost see the words written on the page in his imagination. He closed his eyes and there they were.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.[1] The words comforted him, and his mind stilled. The darkness suddenly didn’t seem as dark. Hywel turned over onto his side and sleep came quickly.

THE PILGRIM p202

[1] Psalm 139:7-12, NKJV.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com

advent, Christian Writer, christmas, Connected to God, Faith, Holy Spirit

ADVENT 3 : STAYING CONNECTED

joymargetts
A decorated Christmas Tress

What do we do while we are waiting?

‘You must be kidding!’ I hear you say. ‘It’s full on busy over here. We have presents to buy, food to hoard, decorations and lights to put up, special church services and nativities to plan for, work parties and Secret Santas to endure. Not to mention trying to keep up with the everyday things that demand our time and attention. Didn’t you know Christmas is coming?

Yep. But what are we doing to try and maintain a sense of anticipation and expectation as Christmas approaches? And how are we waiting well for all that God has promised us?

Simeon

Luke 2 v 25-38 tells us the story of Simeon and Anna, two of my favourite characters from the Christmas story. Both demonstrated how to wait well. Simeon had waited all his life, believing and expecting to see the One God had promised would come. As an old man he held the Christ child in His arms and his joy and wonder are palpable – He had lived to see God’s salvation and it overwhelmed him. 

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of you people Israel”  (Luke 2 v 30-32 NKJV)

The old man, Simeon holding the baby Jesus, his parents watching on

Attuned to the Holy Spirit

What really struck me as I read the story again, was the way that Simeon was so attuned to the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit rested on him. That he had already heard the Holy Spirit promise him he would see the Messiah before he died. And on that very day had responded to the direction of the Holy Spirit to make sure he was in exactly the right place in the Temple at the right time to encounter Jesus with His parents. In addition, he recognised the child by the Holy Spirit and then prophesied over Him and His mother by the same Holy Spirit.

I believe Simeon was so attuned to the Holy Spirit because He had stayed connected. It tells us he was just (lived in a God honouring way) and devout (loved and feared God). He let nothing distract him from his close connection with God, and as a result got to experience the fulfilment of The Promise when so many missed it.

Staying Connected

Staying Connected

We can learn from him, if we are in that waiting period. Staying in close connection with God is key to waiting with hope and expectation.  Dishonouring Him by our thoughts, words or actions, or letting distractions disconnect us from Him, means we can miss what He is saying, miss His guidance and direction, and miss out on the experiences He wants us to have of His goodness. While we wait.

Joy Margetts is new to blogging, and new to being published. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. A work of historic fiction, set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, it is also a story of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, will be published by Instant Apostle in July 2022

More information on Joy and her writing, and links to purchase her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com