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Luke 2
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
This scene of the boy Jesus conversing with the religious authorities in Jerusalem has been, at least to my mind, overstated. Many tend to see here a Jesus fully ready to be God's Son and to take on the monumental spiritual and moral task to which God has called him.
There is no doubt that the 12 year old Jesus is more spiritually wise and mature than any the religious authorities had previously encountered. But note also that he is inquisitive, eager to learn, seeking to grow...sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Here we see both a child who astonishes the experienced religious leaders and a child who is continuing to seek, to search, to question so as to become all that God intends for him (as I noted yesterday).
As we move ever more closely to 2012 and contemplate the very real need of Jesus to spend time reflecting, studying, growing, and strengthening his relationship with God, so it is fitting for us to think about our own devotional and spiritual study habits.
Is Bible study or reflection a regular routine in your life? Do you make disciplined prayer a priority in your busy schedule? Do you give worship the place it should have amidst your weekly commitments? Do you regularly converse with God about His will for your decisions and His expectation for your life? Do you practice some form of periodic spiritual inventory of your life and how it does or does not honor Christ?
Perhaps these words helps define it for us...
Christians over the years have learned that certain disciplines and practices help them keep the spiritual channels open and help keep the heart turned toward God. These disciplines can heighten your desire, awareness, and attention to God...A spiritual discipline is a habit or regular pattern in your life that repeatedly brings you back to God and opens you up to what God is saying to you.
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