The Family Business (Luke 2.41-52)

In Luke 2, the words of the Angel, then the old man of God Simeon, and finally Jesus himself say exactly who Jesus is.

God continues to break 400 years of silence with the puzzling words of Jesus, the 12-year-old.  (Interesting fact: this passage is the only reliable account we have from Jesus’ childhood.)

Why Did Jesus Say He Came?

To do his Father’s business: to heal, forgive, restore, turn hearts back to God. Jesus made it his primary objective to do His Father’s work. As adopted sons and daughters, His true followers hear the same call.

Business Degrees

Our Father’s Business Priorities

Making our Father's priorities our priorities is a challenging task. Sometimes it feels as though we are sinking in a sea of competing priorities. Whille there are many potential priorities that are in direct opposition to the priorities of God, those are not the most dangerous to the family business. The greatest threat to God's priorities are not evil priorities, but good priorities. It is good to work, good to learn, good to spend time with family and friends. All of these things are wonderful. So wonderful that they often take first prority. While these are the kinds of things God would want us to involve ourselves in, they also have a tendency to crowd God out of our lives altogether.  

Beware thorns that crowd your soul. They will ultimately choke out God’s best for you!

“And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.” (Matthew 13.7)

Our Father’s Business Hours

God shows up when you least expect Him. Moses encounters a burning bush at work one day, and bam, life changed forever. Mary is picking colors for her wedding and Gabriel appears with some big news. God's timing isn't always good, it's the best. Are you open to divine interruptions? Some simply are not; too busy; too much to do. "Call back later, when it's more convenient, God." That's reasonable, but also very sad. Great adventures, great blessings await those who are simply open to God's business hours.

God is open to receive you all the time.  Are you open to what He has for you each day?

“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121.3)

Our Father’s Business Plan

A man makes plans and they never quite turn out the way you had hoped. While it is absolutely a great idea to plan ahead and to think about the future, some of the happiest people I've met seem to understand that flexibility -- openness to God's revisions of their plans -- are key to avoiding frustration in life. But far more than that, those who from the beginning ask God to inform their plans each day -- those who make their plans with God's heart in mind to begin with -- those people are the most content.   

The goal is heaven, not earth. Truly, where your treasure is, there is your heart. When we make our plans according to the Father's interests first, we will find great peace.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3.13-14)

Disclaimer

Should we ignore our daily business?  On the contrary.  Doing our Father’s business will ignite everything we do.

Whose Business Are You About?

Try not to answer based on what you like to think about yourself,  but based on what the evidence reveals.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8.36)

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