Luke 2:41-52
The Favor of God Was Upon Him

The ESV Bible titles this week’s passage “The Boy Jesus in the Temple.” Pastor Dave taught through it verse by verse, pointing out what was normal (leaving a child behind, for example) and what was not normal (such as a 12-year-old boy sitting with teachers and questioning them). He then discussed ways in which we can benefit from the boy Jesus’ example and grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God.

For us, growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God happens in the church. It will not happen if we’re “normal” and conform to the pattern of this world. (Romans 12:2) Dave shared some examples of how this works.

The boy Jesus’ community was Nazareth. Our Nazareth is Calvary Community Church, where we can know one another and be known. The opportunity is there, if we will take it. Being known means letting people see the real you, including your failures and struggles. It means not worrying about your image. Knowing others means caring enough to spend time and to ask questions. How am I doing? Father, help me, and all of us!

Jesus sat with the teachers in the temple and engaged with them. We sit and listen to our pastors teach the Bible week after week. If we are “normal,” we view the sermon as passive entertainment. If we are not normal – weird, even – we treat the sermon as essential food for our souls. We also seek to learn from our pastors how to study so we can benefit from time in the Word every day of the week. How am I doing? Father, help me, and all of us!

Even at twelve years old, Jesus was focused on his Father’s business, on the work his Father had for him to do. Our focus is often on anything but. We come to church expecting to be served. That’s normal. But God calls us to serve, not just be served, to give, not constantly take. He calls us to use the gifts He has given us (every one of us) to do Kingdom work, faithfully and sacrificially. How am I doing? Father, help me, and all of us!

Church Family
Bring before the Lord the search for the right man to fill our associate pastor position. The job opening is now posted on the Vanderbloemen website, and the recruiter is hard at work.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

P.S. No prayer blog next week due to weekend travel plans. 

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