Craig Clouston

 

Moved By The Spirit

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

Luke 2:27

Gabriel had felt a loneliness that wouldn't disappear, no matter what he tried to fill the void with. He'd felt God speak to his spirit, telling him the answer was to begin meeting again with other like-minded people; in other words...get back to attending church. Still he resisted what he knew to be the truth.

Over the next few months, Gabriel desired to walk back into the church he had regularly attended with his family, but since they no longer attended either, he was hesitant to put himself through what he figured would be the discomfort of judgment. With a fondness he wanted his memories of church to be the ones of family. So the battle raged within.

Finally, he called his sister to get her take on the matter. She listened and told him if he felt God's urging to return to church, he should go.

Gabriel decided he would go the following Sunday. But that morning he found himself in a battle. He couldn't force himself to get off the couch. Services began at 10:00am, and here it was 11:00. Finally, gaining the courage to get moving, Gabriel got in the car and headed for church. Stopping along the way, he once again called his sister. She urged him on, and assured him no one would judge him, they would welcome him.

Arriving at the church, he stopped, laying his hand on the door. Hesitant, he finally opened the door. Instantly a gentle breeze washed over him, and in that moment he knew he'd done the right thing. And instead of frowns and judgment, there were smiles and waves of welcome; he had come home!

†

In today's text, Simeon, a servant of the LORD, was moved by the Spirit of God to go to the Temple of God. When he got there, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to be presented. Had Simeon refused to listen to the Spirit of God he would have missed the privilege of seeing the Messiah, and presiding over His consecration.

Had Gabriel continued to resist, who knows what he would have missed.

When we isolate ourselves from the body of Christ, we cut off a critical lifeline. And although we can maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ on our own, we miss out on His corporate blessings and the fellowship that nurtures us in a way we cannot otherwise receive.

When the Spirit urges we need to move.

Prayer

“Help me to always follow the Spirit's urging, Father God. Amen.”