Daily Bible Reading
To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only twenty-five readings. Today we start a few “free days” . We encourage you to catch up on any readings you may have missed this month.
If you have finished the month’s readings, you can use these final days of the month to study the passages that challenged or intrigued you.
Daily Devotion
I Must Be About My Father’s Business
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.
45 And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.”
49 And He said unto them, “How is it that ye sought Me? Knew ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Let’s look at Luke 2:49 AMPC “And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father’s house and [occupied] about My Father’s business?”
Jesus said it was necessary for Him to be occupied about His Father’s business. If we are His followers, it is our duty to be occupied about the Father’s business. What is the Father’s business? What was Jesus doing as a 12-year-old? He was discussing scriptures with the religious teachers. He was studying and learning all He could about the Word of God and sharing it with others. Many times, in the gospels we find Jesus sitting and teaching the multitudes. After His death the disciples and apostles spent their time spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18. Jesus said this is why He was sent. This is His Father’s business and so it is our business.
We need to stay focused on being about our Father’s business. Don’t get distracted by what is going on around you. Don’t let this week’s disaster, disease, chaos, and impending doom affect your effectiveness in God’s Kingdom. Personally, I feel like a steady diet of media news is unhealthy for anyone. It is geared toward causing fear, anger, and anxiety. Our focus needs to be on our mission. What was the mission Jesus gave us?
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20
~ Kathy Johnson