Follow the Bible reading plan in the FBC Loganville App or at www.fbcloganville.org/bible
“After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.”
We all know the panic that hits our gut when we realize that we forgot something. Did you ever forget an assignment in school? Have you forgotten a meeting or a deadline?
These momentary gaps in our memory pale in comparison to the time that Joseph and Mary lost Jesus.
Every year the family traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old his family once again made the journey to Jerusalem. After Passover was over Joseph and Mary returned home. Unknown to them, Jesus stayed behind in the Temple. Joseph and Mary assumed that Jesus was with the travel party. It took an entire day to realize that Jesus wasn’t with them. Talk about parents of the year. On top of that, it took them three days to find Jesus in Jerusalem.
Mary and Joseph were imperfect parents. In fact, the world has never seen a set of perfect parents. Adam and Eve sinned. Abraham and Sarah had a strained marriage. I would assume that Solomon couldn’t even name all of his wives.
There is pressure to be a perfect parent in our culture. If you haven’t figured it out by now, there are no perfect parents. Even Jesus’ earthly parents lost him for half a week.
Every person is sinful and sinful people make up families. Do you remember the day when you realized that your parents weren’t perfect? Your parents will fail you from time to time and you will fail your children. We are all in need of the grace of Jesus.
For those of us who are parents, we need to live transparently with our children in a way that builds up their faith and understanding of sin, grace, and sanctification. That doesn’t mean that you share everything with your six year old son but you do need to own up to your mistakes and explain how faith works in real life.
News flash, your children already know that you aren’t perfect. When we pretend to be perfect we leave no space for the perfection of Jesus.
The next generation will understand grace when they see it on display in moments of our failures and weaknesses.
Apply:
- Do you feel pressure to be perfect – or at least seem like you have everything all together?
- What are some healthy ways that you communicate your need for Jesus’ perfection and grace with your friends and family?
Respond:
God, we confess that we are imperfect. There is no way for us to be holy on our own. We need Jesus. We confess our mistakes. Thank you for Jesus. We pray that we will rely on your Spirit today – to guide and correct us. Amen.
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The F260 NT Bible reading plan and HEAR Journal method is from Replicate Ministries.
Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
