series: Reflecting God’s Light #
verse: Luke 2:41-52 #
Main Idea: #
What are the 3 main priorities of people?
- Family
- Health
- Finances A survey showed that many American families put Family at the top of their priority. And it’s been an upward trend of people taking care of their health. More gyms are being built, there’s much more knowledge regarding what good health and taking care of yourself looks like. And finally, financial worry is one of the greatest stressors on Americans today. But unfortunately as we prioritize these things, they become our new gods.
In the passage, Jesus of Nazareth is a 12 year old boy who is rejecting his parents, leaving them behind, so that he can pursue his faithful purpose. He puts his own sense of security and control behind for the sole purpose of his will.
So how can we have the courage to choose the Father’s will above all other things?
Courage comes from belonging to the Father. #
Verse 49 shows that courage doesn’t develop out of nowhere. It starts simply from belonging to the father. Jesus responds to his parents saying, “Why are you looking for me? Don’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”. Jesus understands that his belonging to the Father is governed by divine necessity. Jesus wasn’t worried about anything. Food, lodging, dangers, anything. It was so clear to him that he is the Son of God, and this was a faithfulness akin to one that we can have. Because in Philipians, it shows that Jesus purposefully limited himself in order to show radical love for God that we should have. So to summarize, we need to equip ourselves with the whole and complete faithfulness of belonging to our Lord. Recognize that God is watching over you at all times. Every single thought, every single decision. So glorify him in everything that you do. Find rest in knowing that this almighty God is taking care of you.
Courage comes from trusting the Father’s goodness. #
We need to trust that the Father’s goodness is better than our own. Shift your priorities as Jesus did when he said, “I must be in the Father’s house”. It’s a desire to fulfill the requirement. Even if it meant Jesus would be suffering and uncomfortable by hunger and being surrounded by strangers. And it’s important to note that his trust came from Jesus’ perpetual consumption of the teachings and the Word of God. He was adamantly passionate about all things related to God. Jesus was completed surrounded by Godly things. And in contrast, we often surround ourselves with social media, dopamine, contradiction and polarized topics. We are now equipping ourselves intelligently. We need to follow the Word of God and base our decisions off of God’s holliness and character, not our own fleshly desires.
Are we taking opportunities to be surrounded by the Word of God. And have Godly conversations? It’s why we have community groups, ministries of service, etc.
Courage comes from Christ who chose the Father’s will for us. #
Jesus isn’t a regular person. Look at his story and the way he lived his life. He willingly suffered and was crucified on the cross for the sake of us dirty and sinful humans. The beauty of the gospel is that a perfect man who lived a perfect life, died for imperfect people. Jesus chose obedience until death. If this isn’t an inspiration enough to you, then there is nothing in this world that can encourage you to live as Christ did. We have all of the benefits of Jesus, without the price. Trust that death is not the end, and that resurrection and a heavenly life is to come.
No more simply “trying harder”. Go through the inconvenience. Do the hard thing. Take the risks. Not for your own glory, but for Christ.