"I Was in My Father's House!"
Psalm 77:10-15
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Reflections: As the psalmist considers all the challenges before him and the apparent successes of his enemy he concludes with these words. He concludes that he will make his appeal to the Lord who has stretched out His right hand before and will surely do it again. As he remembers all that God has done in delivering the people of Israel time and time again, he reflects on the greatness of the Lord.
The psalmist first remembers God’s works. Second, he gives thanks that they have been recorded. Thank God for those who have recorded all that God has done so we can properly put our trials into the right perspective of history. As we remember them and talk about them together (which is what we do on Sunday morning and in bible study and in small groups!), they are a great antidote to mistrust of what God is doing in our midst today!
Numbers 33:10-56
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them. ’”
Reflections:
Moses has some final instructions, before the Israelites go into the Promised Land. Aaron, his brother, has died and he will die soon, but in his last attempt to lead the people he clearly describes what they must do! Importantly, as they cross the Jordan, they are to drive out all the inhabitants and their idols to their false gods. God wants them to completely eliminate the remnants of their pagan religions, and not allow any part to remain and possibly corrupt the Israelites. He realizes it is our nature as human beings to conform to the culture around us, rather than being a transforming agent, which is God’s purpose for setting us apart.
Paul picks up on this in Romans 12:2 when he says to the church at Rome, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, His good, acceptable and perfect will.” God wanted to show the world that following Him is good, pleasing and perfect and yet the Israelites, just like us, will not completely trust God to their own demise.
Where is God calling you to trust His way rather than the way of the world? Remember His ways are higher than ours and as we put our trust in Him, we will see His good, acceptable and perfect will in living color. This will also enable us to be a testimony to others of God’s goodness.
Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When 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. 45 When 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. 47 Everyone 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.51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Reflections: We know so little about Jesus life growing up until he reaches adulthood and starts his earthly ministry. So this is a rich gem giving us insight into how the Son of God grew up and how he grew in wisdom. In this parable not only will He confound the religious leaders with his deep insights, but his parents will continue to see the special nature of their Son, and how He ultimately will have to be obedient to His heavenly Father. I’m sure they were both amazed and a bit frightened by all of this.
It is a good reminder to all of us who are parents or grandparents, that our kids are given to us but for a season. One of the most important things we can do is to create an environment in our homes and lives where children see faith in action. We call this in our church “spiritual parenting”. Surely we can teach about faith in the home, but kids will catch our faith as we live it out each day. Notice Mary and Joseph were obedient to go to the temple at the time of the Passover, being a good example to their Son of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven.
If you are a parent take time to give thanks for the child(ren) God has given you. Remember one of the most important things you can do as a parent is to model faith for your kids. This is lesson that will serve them all of their lives and on into eternity. I dare say it is the most important thing you can teach them! Grandparents and other spiritual parents play an important role as well, as you come alongside children and youth God has called you to be a role model for in faith and life!
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved. Psalm 46:4-5
The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:23
God of hospitality and hope, may we walk in your ways, seeking to bring the light of Zion to this world so that all may know the comforts of your holy habitation. Amen.
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Reflections: As the psalmist considers all the challenges before him and the apparent successes of his enemy he concludes with these words. He concludes that he will make his appeal to the Lord who has stretched out His right hand before and will surely do it again. As he remembers all that God has done in delivering the people of Israel time and time again, he reflects on the greatness of the Lord.
The psalmist first remembers God’s works. Second, he gives thanks that they have been recorded. Thank God for those who have recorded all that God has done so we can properly put our trials into the right perspective of history. As we remember them and talk about them together (which is what we do on Sunday morning and in bible study and in small groups!), they are a great antidote to mistrust of what God is doing in our midst today!
Numbers 33:10-56
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them. ’”
Reflections:
Moses has some final instructions, before the Israelites go into the Promised Land. Aaron, his brother, has died and he will die soon, but in his last attempt to lead the people he clearly describes what they must do! Importantly, as they cross the Jordan, they are to drive out all the inhabitants and their idols to their false gods. God wants them to completely eliminate the remnants of their pagan religions, and not allow any part to remain and possibly corrupt the Israelites. He realizes it is our nature as human beings to conform to the culture around us, rather than being a transforming agent, which is God’s purpose for setting us apart.
Paul picks up on this in Romans 12:2 when he says to the church at Rome, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, His good, acceptable and perfect will.” God wanted to show the world that following Him is good, pleasing and perfect and yet the Israelites, just like us, will not completely trust God to their own demise.
Where is God calling you to trust His way rather than the way of the world? Remember His ways are higher than ours and as we put our trust in Him, we will see His good, acceptable and perfect will in living color. This will also enable us to be a testimony to others of God’s goodness.
Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When 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. 45 When 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. 47 Everyone 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.51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Reflections: We know so little about Jesus life growing up until he reaches adulthood and starts his earthly ministry. So this is a rich gem giving us insight into how the Son of God grew up and how he grew in wisdom. In this parable not only will He confound the religious leaders with his deep insights, but his parents will continue to see the special nature of their Son, and how He ultimately will have to be obedient to His heavenly Father. I’m sure they were both amazed and a bit frightened by all of this.
It is a good reminder to all of us who are parents or grandparents, that our kids are given to us but for a season. One of the most important things we can do is to create an environment in our homes and lives where children see faith in action. We call this in our church “spiritual parenting”. Surely we can teach about faith in the home, but kids will catch our faith as we live it out each day. Notice Mary and Joseph were obedient to go to the temple at the time of the Passover, being a good example to their Son of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven.
If you are a parent take time to give thanks for the child(ren) God has given you. Remember one of the most important things you can do as a parent is to model faith for your kids. This is lesson that will serve them all of their lives and on into eternity. I dare say it is the most important thing you can teach them! Grandparents and other spiritual parents play an important role as well, as you come alongside children and youth God has called you to be a role model for in faith and life!
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved. Psalm 46:4-5
The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:23
God of hospitality and hope, may we walk in your ways, seeking to bring the light of Zion to this world so that all may know the comforts of your holy habitation. Amen.
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