June 22, 2009

• every day ought to be our Father's day

  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 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
  
  49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
  

  –Luke 2:41-49

  
  ...I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
  

  –John 5:30b

  
  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
  

  –John 17:4

  Are you about your Father's business . . . or your own business?
  
  Are you seeking your Father's will . . . or your own will?
  
  Are you glorifying your Father . . . or yourself?
  
  Are you pressing on to finish the work your Father has given you to do . . . or your own work?
  

  May the Spirit of Jesus dwell in us so we might
  

  be about our Father's business . . . like Jesus
  
  seek our Father's will . . . like Jesus
  
  glorify our Father . . . like Jesus
  
  finish the work our Father has given us to do . . . like Jesus
  

  Our Father in heaven,
  Hallowed be Your name.
  Your kingdom come.
  Your will be done
  On earth as it is in heaven.
  . . .
  In us as it was in Your Son.
  

  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

  14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

  –Philippians 2:12-16

  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
    
  12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

  –Romans 8:9-14

  Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers[e] are outside seeking You.”

  33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

  –Mark 3:31-35

  Does Jesus call you His brother or His sister or His mother?

  Oh that it may be my sleep and my meat and drink to do the will of my Heavenly Father!
  (George Whitefield)
  

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  Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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