I Must Be About My

Father’s Business

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Luke 2:42-52. In this Scripture we have a record of a time when Jesus was twelve years old He went to Jerusalem with Joseph and Mary, which was their yearly custom. But, this time was different because when Joseph and Mary left to go back home Jesus failed to come with them. He stayed behind at the temple without His parent’s knowledge.

Mary and Joseph were about a day’s journey away when they looked for Him and He was nowhere to be found. You know they must have been frightened when they couldn’t find Him. Have you ever taken your children shopping or somewhere and looked around and couldn’t find them? If so, you know the fright Jesus’ parents must have felt in their hearts and the pain that must have been in the pit of their stomachs.

They turned around and went back to Jerusalem to search for Him and found Him at the temple. When they found him at the temple they asked Him why he stayed behind and told Him they had been looking for Him and were worried about Him and His safety. Jesus answered them, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” His parents didn’t understand what He was talking about, so they took Him back with them to Nazareth.

Even Jesus knew it was not about Him, but about obeying His Heavenly Father. It was about serving God and obeying His will. We were all created by God for a purpose. Jesus’ purpose was to be the Savior of the world. Jesus knew He needed to be near the Father to learn more and draw strength from the Heavenly Father to fulfill His destiny.

In the book of Esther, Esther was in the king’s palace. She could have wondered why she was there. Was it her beauty that landed her in the king’s palace? Maybe so, but she realized she may have been there for a higher purpose when her relative Mordecai asked her to plead for the life of her people before the king.

She could have ignored Mordecai’s request. She could have been concerned only about her own wellbeing, but she loved Mordecai and cared about the Jewish people.

God had her in the palace for a purpose. He used Esther’s influence with the king to save the Jewish people. Esther realized she had a greater purpose. She was about the Father’s business. God used Esther in a mighty way to save the Jewish people. Esther knew she needed God’s strength and favor to fulfill her destiny.

Are you about the Father’s business? Have you asked Him if there was something He wants you to do? Maybe God has you where you are for a reason, as Esther was in the king’s palace at the appointed time. Maybe there is someone where you work God wants you to witness to.

Pray and ask God to show you His purpose for you and what He wants you to do. Then, when He shows you, obey Him. He may have a greater purpose for you than you can imagine. Follow God’s will and see where He leads you.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Luke 2:42-52

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after 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 acquaintance.
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 that 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? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

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Things to think about:

• How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn’t find Jesus?
• Why was Jesus surprised they were looking for Him?
• Where was Jesus when they found Him?
• Why was He there?
• What did He tell them?
• Are you about your heavenly Father’s business?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture, where we see Jesus saying He was about His Father’s business. We realize He was committed to doing Your will. Help us to be committed to doing Your will, as Jesus was. Show us Your will for our lives and help us to obey and walk in Your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Excerpt from: PURIM Celebration: 28 Daily Devotionals by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

If you haven’t read the story of Esther and learned what she had to do with Purim check out my book:

The Book of Esther: A Story of Love and Favor

The Jewish people will be celebrating Purim this week. Purim 2020 starts Monday evening March 9 and ends on Tuesday evening March 10.

 

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Featured Book:

PURIM Celebration: 28 Daily Devotionals

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

PURIM Celebration: 28 Daily Devotionals is a Daily Bible Reading Study Book by Deborah H. Bateman and friends. It is a compilation of 28 Daily Devotionals by Deborah and fourteen of her author and writer friends.

Purim is a holiday that was started back in the days of Queen Esther and is still celebrated today. Deborah took the letters of PURIM and created categories for the contributors to write about:

• P=Praise
• U=Un-forgiveness or Forgiveness
• R=Relationships
• I=Inspirational
• M=Marriage

One of the traditions of Purim is giving gifts to the poor. In light of that tradition we have decided that a portion of the proceeds of this book will go to charity.

PURIM Celebration was created as part of Deborah’s Book Launch for her book: The Book of Esther: A Story of Love and Favor which was published in 2012.

PURIM Celebration includes devotionals from: Mary Pacheco, Penny Zeller, Katherine Harms, Dave Moore, Marlo Schalesky, Judith Robl, Lynn Dove, Buffy Crabtree, Deborah McCarragher, Shawn Lamb, Serge Roux-Levrat, Lily Brenner, Heidi Faith, and Lisa Buffaloe. The book is edited by Lisa Lickel, one of my friends in the John 3:16 Networking Group.

Some of the contributors are from the John 3:16 Network Marketing group Deborah belongs to. Some of the writers are from a coaching program that Deborah participates in. One of the authors is from the Palmetto Christian Writer’s Network Deborah is a member of. The rest of the writers and authors are friends Deborah has made over the past few years online.

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Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive the Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study the Bible along with us.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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