My Father’s Business
by Margaret D. Mitchell
“…I must be about my Father’s business” -Luke 2:49 (KJB)
Don’t you just love these words spoken by a young Jesus—with all their intonations, their simple logic and purity of heart?
Jesus knew His first place was dedication to Father God, to be directly connected to Him intimately, to linger and to learn. It was His heart’s desire in His young journey and nothing could get in the way.
You have to love Mary’s reaction to her missing son in verse 48, “Son…why have you done this to us?” Initial panic over a missing child is understandable, but to think that Jesus intentionally did this to afflict her, leaves us to wonder why she didn’t think of God’s purpose first instead of her own. I believe that her heart was so invested and connected to her sweet child that Father God had to remind her that her beloved Son Jesus was growing up and that He was His first.
Jesus was drawn to His Father and the people and things of His Father—the teachings, the Temple. He must’ve felt such a fulfillment spending three days in the there with the religious teachers—finally someone who could converse with Him on His level. Verse 47 tells us, “Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.” And nothing or no one could distract Him, not even his mother from spending more time in His Father’s house.
Father God reminded Mary that their Son was growing into His divine destiny. When she found her Son physically, Mary found God’s Son in her heart. Father God awakened her. Mary had a change of heart on her day of finding Jesus. Verse 51 (NIV) tells us that Mary “…treasured all these things in her heart.” Mary’s discovery was pivotal—a gift of renewal from Father God through His Son, The Sacrificial Lamb, during the Passover season.
In verse 49, Jesus asks His parents rhetorically, “Why were you searching for Me?” His parents didn’t understand at first. But Mary was able to break through her fears and limited perspective. Jeremiah 29:13 reminds us that we will seek Him and find Him when we seek Him with our whole heart.
I love how, as God grows us, He gives us promptings, discoveries and heart awakenings, understandings; and the bigger the discovery, the bigger the catalyst. We can expect them and choose to see them through God’s eyes first. As Jesus learned at the Temple, so did Mary learn in her heart.
God always has something great for us—a revelation, a learned truth, a directive, a forewarning, an expression of His love. He is so active and alive. Is there anything more wonderful than being with God in His dedicated places—both physically and in our heart?
Where are some of the places of discovery God has led you to? How have you seen Him sync up those closest to you with His vision and purpose for you?
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ. This devotional was adapted from Margaret's forthcoming book, Enduring Grace. All rights reserved.
