IT’S NECESSARY
Do you remember when Joseph and Mary and the family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast? Jesus was only 12 years old at the time. At the end of the first day of their homeward journey, they could not find Jesus They thought he was with friends and family, but when they couldn’t find him, they realized he was missing. They had to return to Jerusalem and after three agonizing days of searching they found him.Where was he? In the temple “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."
Mary was very upset and scolded him. Jesus answered: “Didn’t you know that I MUST BE in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49 NET).
The Passion translation says: “Didn’t you know that it was NECESSARY for me to be here in my Father’s house, consumed with him?”
Jesus understood how necessary it was to be in His Father’s house. It is also necessary for our children. I believe that as parents we have a responsibility to make sure we take our children to the house of God. It is a habit we must establish in their lives. It was Jesus’ habit. Luke 4:16 tells us that Jesus went into the synagogue on the sabbath day “as was his custom.” It wasn’t something He did when he felt inclined. It was His habit.
It should be the habit of our lives and consequently become the habit of our children’s lives. We don’t meet with the people of God when it fits in with our plans. We do it because that is what God wants us to do. We show to God, and to our children, what place He has in our lives by our commitment to the gathering of God’s people.
There are too many excuses today. People go to church if they feel inclined, but if anything else is happening, that takes first place. I believe it is time for a renewal of the godly attribute of commitment. Commitment to marriage. Commitment to motherhood. Commitment to meeting with God’s people. Commitment to the duties of life. Sadly, many have forgotten the word “commitment.”
I remember reading about the early settlers of New Zealand. When they came to an area to settle, they would first build a church where they could all meet together—before they even built their homes! Such was their commitment to God.
May we be families who “rain, hail, or snow,” viruses, lockdowns, or persecution, can be counted on to weekly meet with fellow believers.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
Photo: Laurel (4) and Henry McCarty (2) all dressed up and ready for church * This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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