The Daily Grind...

Luke 2:41-50

Mary and Joseph had been given a message and vision from the Lord. They were charged with raising the very Son of God. This purpose and calling turned their life upside down. They experienced a virgin birth, received numerous visits from angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets appeared to them praising the Savior of the World, and they spent the first few years of Jesus's life in Egypt hiding out. It seems like it would be impossible to forget who they were raising, impossible to lose sight of their calling, yet we find they did. Before we become to judgemental... I would wager that we have found ourselves in the same boat as well.

Mary and Joseph were doing the "right" thing. They followed the law and made the trek to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. They were fulfilling the letter of the law. Yet they lost sight of Jesus and His passions. When they finally found Him they did not understand what Jesus meant by having to be in His Father's house.

I would wager that somewhere along the 12 years of Jesus's life, Mary started to get comfortable. They were back home from Egypt, making a living through carpentry, raising children, and following the "law" by travelling to the temple every year with the rest of their family. The angel's voices may have grown more and more silent with each passing year, the gifts from the wise men pushed back into a corner somewhere collecting dust, the great calling on their life a memory. They did not understand why Jesus HAD to be in the temple.

I am not at all being critical of Mary and Joseph. Life can be tough. Trying to make a living, trying to raise your children in a way pleasing to the Lord, trying to take care of all the daily tasks that need to be completed. We all seem to slip into believing the way to please God is to do the right things and try to follow His commandments. I cringed when I read this story, because I see myself in Mary's shoes.

God has given us all a purpose, and so many times we forget about it in the day in and day out living. Do you know what God has called you to do? Are you still hearing His voice and direction in your life? When is the last time that you drew near to the Father's house just to be in His presence? These are questions I am asking myself.

Lord, protect me from being so busy being the wife, mother, house keeper, teacher, etc. that I lose sight of how you want me to spend my days. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight that He came to die for our sins, for the sins of my neighbors, and not just to help me along life's way. May my ears and heart be sensitive to you!