Questions

 Luke 2 gives the account of Jesus and His parents going to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. At its conclusion, His parents, Mary and Joseph, join the crowd of fellow celebrants on the road home. At least a full day goes by before the realize Jesus is missing. This brings me to a question for each of us; how much of a day, how many days can go by before we realize He's missing? Individually and corporately. In the midst of the carrying out of our everyday lives (and ministries), how much time can pass before we realize His absence?

When Mary and Joseph did notice, they quickly returned to Jerusalem. After 3 days of searching, they found Him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers. He was astounding them with His wisdom and understanding. They rebuke Him. "Why have You treated us this way?" they ask. This brings another question. Have you ever noticed how, when we're in a place where He seems absent, we also ask, "Why are You doing this to me?" In fact, many of our questions to Him in that place aren't really questions at all. They're accusations. Why have you done this? Why haven't You done that? Where were You? Where are You? Why aren't You where I want You to be, doing what I want You to do? Don't You care?" These questions were also asked by His disciples. He answered His parents, just as He answers us. 

Most translations render His reply as, "Why is it you were looking for Me? Didn't you know I had to be in My Father's House?" We've often used this verse to get people into church on a regular basis, but the original language says something much deeper. In effect He says, "Didn't you know that I am all about My Father?"

His life wasn't all about being in church, reading His Bible, or tithing. These are excellent things, but they were not His focus. He was totally centered on joined to His Father. Where the Father was, He was. Where the Father was, He was. What the Father did, He did. He was surprised that His parents didn't realize that. How surprised must He be that so many of us don't realize that either.

We're in a time when those who call themselves His followers are very willing to be involved with Him, but being in-volved with Him is not the same as being IN Him. Being involved keeps everything under our control. Being in Him surrenders all control to Him. We are not our own. We are His. It's here that we come to understand what Paul meant when he said, "It's no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Paul lived in two worlds, the temporal and the eternal. His physical life was here, and he was aware of that, but his mind, heart, and spirit abide in the Kingdom, and he was fully aware of that as well. No aspect of his life was unaware of it. He could say, as did His Lord, "I am all about my Father." In Him. Fully in Him. 

One day, when all of this world has passed away, we who profess to follow Him will give account for how we have lived for Him. Many may have words and thoughts as to how we have lived for Him and with them. I hope that their testimony for me will be a good one, but really, only the words of the Father will matter. How will I have lived for Him? Where did my life most often find me? In Him, or merely around Him, at times most convenient for me? What will my life have been all about? What will He say about yours?

Blessings,
Pastor O