A New Year’s Devotion based on Luke 2:41-52

The story in the Bible about the boy Jesus, at age 12, found in the temple by his worried parents after 3 days -- is an important story. It completes the Christmas stories or ‘revelations’ about Jesus being the promised Saviour of whom prophets had spoken, and for whom Israel had long waited. It gives us a ‘time check’ so we can see what was happening to that seemingly-ordinary baby boy as he was growing up -- The Apostle Luke wrote about him previously, “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.”

At first glance it seems more like a message to children in the Church to be obedient to their parents! It may also, seemingly, want to emphasize the worries of Mary his mother, over her son Jesus, which were never to end --

But, its point is even more profound: this story is about God’s worry and heartbreak over his sin-filled world! God sent his Saviour Jesus -- his name says it all! -- to bring new hope into the world -- and not just to his own people! God announced his coming to poor and rich alike -- and only the poor took note. Foreigners came to see for themselves, whose birth a new star had announced. The local sin-sick king thought only of his own power and killed all the male children born around that time!

-- God’s love for God’s world is the point of this story! God made himself visible in the person of Jesus. That’s why they also called Jesus Emmanuel.

As we look to another year, we often put the past behind us. We make new resolutions and want to start ‘fresh’ -- as if we were starting a new calendar.

But, too often we relapse into old habits, or we realize we can’t fulfill our resolutions for the new year. Sometimes, we even wish: ’If only we could get some help -- everything would be better!’

The story of the boy Jesus, who chose to go to the temple instead of home with his earthly parents, can convey to us that God will not let us down. God is as good as God’s Word. The prophesies about his Saviour have been fulfilled. God is among us. Just as the boy Jesus told his earthly parents that he must be in his Father’s house -- or ’about his Father’ -- we need to stay close to God too; and learn more about God if we can.

* Will we take time in 2007 to look God up? Will we give ourselves to God in thanksgiving or will we wait until we can’t find God anymore in the busyness of our lives? * That would break God’s heart even more.

Pray about your opportunities to be closer to God in 2007. Remember, Luke 2:41-52 is not just a ‘nice bedtime Bible story’. It’s about God’s anxious waiting for us to be saved. Why not give God another chance? Amen