Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

2 October 2024

Reading From Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

–Luke 2:46-52

     If I were Joseph, I would have been frantic!  What a nightmare to not know where your child is in what must have been a teeming sea of people traveling back to their homes after Passover.  When Mary and Joseph did locate Jesus, He was having an extremely intelligent conversation with the teachers gathered in the temple.  Imagine a young boy explaining the complexities of the Law and the Prophets, but His listeners do not realize that He can do so because He’s the One who wrote the book! 

     The phrase “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” reminds me that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  As such, He temporarily gave up the glory of Heaven in order to humble Himself as a man.  In doing so, we now have a Great High Priest we can identify with.  As God the Son, He is timeless, everlasting and changeless, but as the Son of Man, He developed in the same ways that other human children do, only without sin. 

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the perfect example of life and godliness You set for us even as a young boy.  May we follow Your lead and delight ourselves in Your Father’s House.  There we find peace and rest and renewal.  May we dwell there forevermore.  Amen.”

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

–Psalm 23:6