Questions for a Quiet Christmas #28

Yesterday we talked about Mary & Joseph's commitment to holiness and obedience, in living out their lives before God as His children and as parents for Jesus.  Today we continue in Luke 2, looking at another man who was faithful: 

 25 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. 26 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. 27 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon was righteous.  The Bible does not say that about a whole lot of people individually, so when it does, we need to take notice. What does it mean to be righteous? Simply that He was in right relationship with God. It is often seen in actions, like Simeon being devout, committed, concerned to do what God wants.  It involves developing a closeness to God that puts you in tune with God's plan. He knew that the Messiah was coming, so he was there ready and waiting to meet Him.  Do I see myself getting closer to God so I sense more of what He is doing?  Before this event, Simeon lived a life of contentment and peace with God, but afterwards, there was a fulness to that contentment and peace like never before.  That does not mean he gave up living, or living to please God, but that he knew he had been on the right path, even as he waited all those years for this one day.  Do I have that peace and contentment in life - That I am good with God, where He wants me to be, but that I am also in a place where I'm ready to receive them more fully?