I had a new chess set for Christmas, my intention to start playing again in an effort to keep my mind sharp in my old age (and I can program the computer app to let me win). Then, a few days ago my not yet 5 year old granddaughter saw the chess set and asked if she could play a game with me. To my amazement she not only understood the basics of chess, but also remembered the aim of the game, the power of each piece and how each piece moves. Like all my grandchildren, she is special! Her mental capacity in one so young reminded me of a story in the Bible. (Luke 2:41-52)
The young boy sat on a bench, in the company of much older men. These men were mostly teachers of Jewish theology and as they sat and discussed, and maybe even argued, the boy listened and asked questions. His understanding and his answers astounded those who heard him.
For three days now he had attached himself to these theologians in the Temple court in Jerusalem. In asides they probably wondered among themselves who this boy was, his parents nowhere to be seen. His accent might have pointed to his home being somewhere up north in Galilee, just an ordinary place – though this was no ordinary 12 year old boy.
And then on the third day his parents turned up. His disappearance as they started heading for home after celebrating the Passover had caused consternation. After three days of searching they were worried and a little cross! But his reply to their vexatious question would have been even more interesting to those gathered around: “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” he said.
The Bible tells us that this boy Jesus, even as a child, had already grown strong and was full of wisdom and that the grace of God was upon him (Luke 2:40). His relationship with His heavenly Father was sound and sure.
Now, having found the young boy, the family could finally head back home. The Bible tells us that back home in Nazareth he was a model child and that he “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.”(Luke 2:51,52)
As I reread this story I remembered how later, during Jesus’ ministry, John in his Gospel writes that Jesus declares, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19) (There are more Scriptures about this in John’s Gospel: John 6:38, 8:28, 12:49-50, 14:10.)
These verses talk about Jesus’ obedience and his willingness to submit to His Father. they are also a calling for us as His disciples to follow His example.
And that takes me back to the verses in the Book of Proverbs that I read and started meditating upon this morning.
They are from Proverbs 3:5,6: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart” calls upon me, as Christ’s disciple, to have complete faith in God, totally and unreservedly. “And lean not on your own understanding” reminds me not to rely on my own logic or knowledge or my own so called wisdom. Instead I am called into submission: “in all your ways submit to Him” – to follow God, to surrender my life to Him in every aspect, all the time! And if I do He will make my path “straight” – He will guide me in every aspect of my life physically, morally, emotionally, spiritually – each step in my lives being clear and unencumbered by worry or fear.
Proverbial advice that points me and you to the opportunity we each have to follow in Christ’s footsteps; Jesus tells us is, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6). What a journey we have embarked upon!
All references are from the NKJV unless specified otherwise.
John Partis
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