The Bible was written in tears and to tears it will yield its best treasures. 

God has nothing to say to the frivolous man.

A. W. Tozer

Simeon is one of the most overlooked men in the Bible. Most people don’t even recognize his name. But Simeon teaches a vital lesson about being men of passion in a time of mediocrity. Simeon is only mentioned in a few short verses in Luke 2. We don’t know much about him, the length of his days, his hobbies and passions, his wife or family. But God knew Simeon, and as far as the scriptures are concerned, this is all that mattered. Luke 2 records:

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. 
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."

The majority of people missed the birth of Jesus. God snuck into our world almost unnoticed. But a few people were let in on the secret of his coming. A few people beheld the miracle in their midst while the world moved slowly on. Simeon was one of them. 

The priests dedicating Jesus didn’t notice the Messiah in front of them. 
That Pharisees didn’t notice Jesus in their quest for holiness.
The Sadducees didn’t notice Jesus in their navigation of Roman power. 
The Essenes didn’t notice Jesus in their protests against compromise. 
But Simeon did. A normal godly man held the Messiah in his hands.

What set him apart? Why did God tell him what he withheld from others?

His hunger. Simeon's heart was set on the consolation of God's people.
While other men his age were concerned with the normal pursuits of life, Simeon’s heart longed for more. He wanted to see Israel redeemed and restored. His personal peace was tied to his people’s peace. His heart was connected with God's larger concerns, not just his personal problems.

A.W. Tozer wrote a book called, God Tells the Man Who Cares. It was an invitation to walk deeply with God and escape the trivial nature of contemporary life. And it’s an invitation that God extends to us today. 

At this time of year, we can tend to turn inward to reflect on all that’s gone behind. We look back at our losses and wins, joys and sorrows, fears and regrets. And we start to turn our eyes to the year ahead, our goals, dreams, ambitions, and wants. Yet, we can fall into the trap of processing our lives without reference to divine priorities. We can be choked out by things as simple as "the cares of this life and the desires for other things" We can move into planning mode without seeking God. We can run after the same things as the pagans without even knowing it. 

Why not take a few moments this week to ask God what’s on his heart for 2023? Why not process and dream through a kingdom lens? Why not ask him to stir a passion for the consolation of his people in your time? Why not ask what the agenda of heaven is for the coming year, not just your personal goals and vision? Aligning your heart with God's heart attracts the attention of heaven.

Who knows, maybe God will let you in on some of the things he is doing that others fail to see. 

God rewarded Simeon, and God wants to reward you too. 

He rewards those who diligently seek him.
He speaks to those who care. 
He guides those set on doing his will.  
Rise above the frivolous masses. 
Be a man who cares.

Cheers.

Jon.