Where's My Son?

Daily Reading: Luke 2

Scripture Focus: Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? (Luke 2.49b)

Devotional Thought: A few weeks ago, one of our 'choir kids' climbed up on the pew and let me pick her up. Those of us in the back row of the choir watched with interest and mischievousness. In a few moments her mother looked down where the child had been standing, and didn't see her! "Where's my daughter?"

When Jesus was just a lad of twelve, he went to Jerusalem with his parents to observe a religious festival. As was common in those days, extended families mingled and blended all through the week of religious activities. When it came time to leave, they all left together. Except for Jesus. He stayed behind.

Naturally, his mother panicked. "Where's my son?" She scolded Jesus (Now that's a thought, isn't it? We wonder how she could do that, but I wonder if we don't do it ourselves in more subtle ways...), thinking he had been disrespectful to his earthly parents. Jesus, however, had a higher perspective, a heavenly perspective. God had sent him to earth to accomplish a mission, and he always moved toward that end. "Mom, I had to be in my heavenly Father's house! How could you not know that?" Jesus respected his parents; that much is clear.

The scripture says that he "went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them" (v. 51). In this episode, however, Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson. Our allegiance to God supersedes all other loyalties. Jesus recognized, and wants us to recognize, that our heavenly Father must come first.

How about you? Is your allegiance to God higher and greater than any other loyalties?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you came to earth to be the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. You left your Father's house to obey your Father's will. Help me to have that same level of allegiance and loyalty to the will of our heavenly Father. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. (Psalms 133:1-3)