Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Men like Simeon amaze me. Just and devout are descriptions of a life that pleases God. We know little else of Simeon, his life, his family, his troubles, or his day to day habits. All we see is the results, a reputation worthy of admiration. He stands as a man blessed by the presence of the Holy Ghost.

He reminds me of Enoch who walked with God and pleased God. Nothing was said of Enoch except perhaps his lineage. How did he come to walk with God?

If I focus on these men and try and use that as proof that man can please God and walk with God apart from Christ, I place myself in a position of human effort and absolutely no formula for performance.

Amos 7:7-9 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

So often we look to the plumbline of Amos as Christ being the upright example but leave off there forgetting the next verse. God has said in verse 9 that the ways of the past to come into relationship with Him are done away. “I will not pass by them any more” is reference to Exodus 33:20-23 where He placed Moses on the Rock and passed by Moses.

It is a sign of the end of the old methods and dependence upon Christ and Christ alone for relation.

Acts 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Do you still have those feelings of peace and good will towards men? Christmas is over and life resumes. Was the season one for a moment and now you are looking forward to New Year’s Eve and all the emotions that night brings?

There is a life for many people that is nothing more than expectation and recovery. They look and prepare for meaningful events to occur in their lives as if those days and the meaning add value to life.

Allow me to interject a thought about oppression. If Christ is not in you, you are oppressed by the devil whether you believe it or not. Some will snicker at the idea while others will acknowledge it and still blame God for not pulling them out from under that oppression.

Those who snicker do not feel the oppression because they are no threat to the prince of the power of the air. The world, the things of the dust, dead things, are his dominion and Satan rules there. Play along and you get along. Satan cares nothing for those who are of no threat to his dominion.

People who feel the oppression and blame God have one thing going for them, they believe there is a God. As to blaming God, if you want God to be on your side, then get on His side. Leave the Oppressive Dominion and enter the Kingdom of God.

Ephesins 2:6-7 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

God does nothing apart from Christ. Make Him the Lord of your life to escape oppression.