The Business of Obedience

Have you ever been helping look for someone and you hear someone ask “Where is their favorite place to hang out at? Where is that one place that if they could be anywhere they would want to go to?" When you go and look there you usually find that person and of course, it is a relief. However, what about when the missing person says, "Why were you worried- I thought you would know where I would be at?" 

In Luke 2:41-49, we read how Jesus and his parents had experienced the same issue. The story is Jesus and His parents when He was twelve years old went to Jerusalem to attend the feast of the Passover which was according to the custom of the feast. As they were all coming back from the feast Jesus' parents thought Jesus was with the other relatives that were traveling with them and He wasn't. They then had to go back to Jerusalem and at that point, they had already traveled a day's journey away.

When they finally found Jesus three days later he was in the temple sitting among the teachers. He was there asking questions and learning, and the Bible says all that heard him were astonished. Jesus’ mother when she found Him asked “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me? He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in Father’s house?” 

Some may say that Jesus was wrong for not telling His parents that he was staying behind but for him there was no reason for him to not be in that temple- that was His father’s house. The Bible though also says Jesus continued to be in subjection to His parents. For Jesus being in that temple was who he was and who He was to become. He was in His father’s house and had to have felt that at that moment. “Yes, this is where I belong- this feels right!’ That moment when all things made sense to Him and he didn’t want to leave.

In the bigger picture of things Jesus was being obedient to His heavenly father by learning all that He could, and I believe every year after that He spent a lot of time in the temple. Imagine the truth of what Jesus said to His mother- for Him there was just no other explanation of where He should have been. In His mind, I guess he probably even thought that it was as we would say "Just a given" that He would be there that day. His statement should also ring true for each one of us as His children. What is it that you know you just have to do? That thing that God has called you to? That thing He’s asking you to do?

Each of us should have that same passion and fervency Jesus did that day. The passion to be about whatever He has created us for demands obedience from us. That Passion that would even cause us to say to others "What else except for this reason was I created." That passion that says, "If I couldn't do this or that I wouldn't feel complete." The passion that says "You should know that I have to do this- this is who I am."

Maybe you're not sure what it is God has called you to do. Maybe though you do, and you haven't met it head-on out of fear or some other reason. Either way, go to God now and talk to Him about all that concerns you. Go to God with your whole heart and know He will help and prepare you. Most importantly know that one day for you it will just be a given that you will do it because that is why you were created. You who were created to be about God's business. 

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns