Prepare for Easter

Friday, February 28, 2020

About My Father’s Business:

A Lenten Devotional Guide

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52 NIV

For years I had an “unbiblical” picture of Jesus. I failed to recognize that he was a flesh and blood man, and because of that my relationship to him was stunted. When he came to earth, he agreed to being limited by human flesh. He could not move supernaturally but had to walk from place to place. He ate, slept, and functioned in a 24-hour day. He’s been where we are; he understands us.

From this verse, we learn that, as he was about his Father’s business, he was maturing mentally, physically socially, and spiritually – just as we do. We can look at his life and determine if our own growth in any way parallels his.

The physical part is no problem. We automatically grow in size if we eat properly. But there are two kinds of mental growth or wisdom that we acquire – the education we get in schools and the spiritual understanding that we get in church and through personal study. The first helps us find favor socially as productive members of society. We work hard at that. The second brings us into favor with God as we come to know him better and to really understand what pleases him. I fear we don’t take that as seriously.

We’re careful to develop social skills and to acquire wisdom that make us successful now, but are we as careful to develop the skills we need for eternity? Dare we trust our spiritual growth to an hour on Sunday morning? The Father’s business requires a whole healthy self – mentally, physically, spiritually and socially.

Father, Thank you for the example of growth that you have set for us. Help us to be about your business of growth for ourselves. Amen

About My Father’s Business:

A Lenten Devotional Guide

prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida

Spring 2010

by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator