Restrained By The Holy Spirit

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 15, 2017

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Luke 2:25-26

A life influenced by the Holy Spirit waits on the Lord: righteous and devout, engaging its heart with Christ’s heart. A soul empty of self is able to be filled by the Spirit to overflowing through humble confession and thorough cleansing, for a heart purified of sin qualifies to be filled with righteousness. Repentance invites the Holy Spirit to rest on a surrendered life. So the eyes of our soul trust the Spirit to see clearly what awaits us. Circumstances can be cloudy, but the Holy Spirit tends to elevate the cloud and convert it into His trustworthy creation to be followed.

Simeon saw what others did not see because he looked up in faith not down in disbelief. He was a religious leader who did not allow his religion to become a substitute for knowing God or for looking to the Lord for the coming Messiah–“the consolation of Israel”. Before he died Simeon longed to see God bring comfort to his people, to forgive their sin and bring healing to their land through the son of David—JESUS. The Holy Spirit had prepared Simeon to meet his Maker.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2).

Does the Holy Spirit rest on your life with reassuring trust and strength in Him? If not, confess the inferiority of leaning into your wisdom and lean instead into the Lord’s wisdom. The Spirit of God will show you where to go, what to do and what to say when you arrive. If the Holy Spirit restrains you from walking away, then stay; if He restrains you from speaking then keep quiet. Better to wait on God’s feast than settle for the scraps of what self can accomplish. Restrain, rest.

Are you ready to meet your Maker? Are you at peace knowing you have peace with God and peace with your fellow man? If not, make peace with God by placing your faith in Jesus alone for the salvation of your soul, and make peace with those around you by forgiving and by asking forgiveness. Submit to the Holy Spirit and He will make your intentions right and effective. Once you are prepared to meet your Maker, you are prepared to meet all life has to offer. Wait on God.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).

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