God's Word for Me Today
Thursday, December 13, 2001
Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, as I come to Your written Word today, I thank You for Your Word, who became flesh and lived among us—for Jesus! I praise You that in Your great plan of salvation, designed before the creation of the universe, that You made a way for us to be in eternal relationship with You through Jesus. I ask Your forgiveness for the many ways that I continue to break relationship with You as I sin in action, words and thoughts. Cleanse me from my sin this day and let me always live in faithful obedience to You by the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, I ask this prayer. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Luke 2:41-51
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was with friends among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, discussing deep questions with them. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 His parents didn't know what to think. "Son!" his mother said to him. "Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere." 49 "But why did you need to search?" he asked. "You should have known that I would be in my Father's house." 50 But they didn't understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored all these things in her heart.
Questions for Reflection
When you were growing up, did you ever get lost or separated from your parents while on a trip? What was your reaction? What was theirs?
Is there a certain place you go when you want to be alone with God, or when you want to find out more about Him?
Questions for Exploration
What does this text tell us about Mary and Joseph’s observances of the Jewish holy days? (2:41-44)
What was the reason for Jesus’ staying behind after His family had started on the journey home? (2:45-49)
How did Mary and Joseph respond to Jesus’ answer? (2:50-51)
Questions for Understanding
How do you suppose you would have responded to what Jesus did in today’s Scripture? Why?
Why do you think that Luke pointed out that after Jesus went home to Nazareth with his parents that he was obedient to them, and that Mary “stored all these things in her heart”?
Questions for Application
What is one thing you need to do today to show a fuller obedience to your parents (if they are still living)?
Take ten minutes today to “store up” some things about Jesus in Your heart that will equip you to serve Him more faithfully!
Why Mothers Get Gray!
When I was growing up, there were many occasions when I did something that caused my Mother more than a little consternation. On many of those occasions my mother would say, “Why mothers get gray.” I didn’t understand the saying then, but as I have matured, and become a parent, I, too, know what it means for mothers (and fathers) to “get gray,” because of the deeds (and misdeeds) of their children. Jesus was no different from us in this regard. He caused Mary and Joseph worry and anxious moments from time to time. The story in today’s text is the only record we have from Jesus’ growing up years, and it is an extremely tense situation from Mary and Joseph’s perspective! Jesus had “stayed behind” in Jerusalem after the Passover, when the rest of the family had begun the journey home. No one was concerned at first, because Mary and Joseph assumed that Jesus was with some other group in the caravan home. Then they realized he was no where to be found (We’ve all had moments like that, right?) What fear, concern and terrible thoughts must have gone through their minds! When they found Jesus his answer was, “Why were you worried? Didn’t you know that I’d be in my Father’s house?” (No, they didn’t know, or they wouldn’t have spent three days looking everywhere else!) Jesus wasn’t being disobedient (He never was!), but nevertheless his actions caused some “gray moments” for His parents. Luke ends this story by telling us that Jesus went home and OBEYED his parents, and continued to grow in favor with God and people. The “gray moments” come to all of us as parents. By God’s grace most of them end up providing growth for everyone involved. May it be so, for each of us, and may we look first to God in such times. It’s always the safest way to go—it may even cut down on the number “gray moments” we have!
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