Introduction

Good morning, folks! We're gathered here today to share and celebrate the word of God. We're going to talk about a passage from the book of Luke that's pretty special. But before we get into that, I want to share a quote with you. It's from a highly respected Christian author, Philip Yancey. He once said, "Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more—no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes." Isn't that something? No matter what we do or don't do, God's love for us remains constant.

Understanding the Commitment of Believers

When we consider the story of Jesus at the age of twelve, we see a young boy who already has a deep commitment to His Father's work. This is a level of dedication that is both inspiring and challenging for us as believers. It's not about age, but about the heart's readiness to serve and honor God. Jesus, at such a young age, was found in the temple, engaging with the teachers, asking questions, and amazing everyone with His understanding. This shows us that commitment to God is not about our human understanding or wisdom, but about seeking to know more about Him and His ways. We often think that we need to reach a certain level of spiritual maturity before we can truly commit to God. But here we see Jesus, a twelve-year-old, fully committed to His Father's work. This tells us that there is no age limit or spiritual maturity level required to commit to God. The second aspect we see in this passage is that commitment to God often means going against the norm. Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem while His parents were returning home. This was not the usual practice. It was against the norm. But Jesus was more concerned about His commitment to His Father than about following societal norms. Are we willing to go against the norm for our commitment to God? Are we willing to stand out, to be different, to face criticism and misunderstanding for the sake of our commitment to God? The third aspect we see in this passage is that commitment to God is a daily endeavor. Jesus didn't just visit the temple once and then forget about it. He stayed there, day after day, engaging with the teachers, learning, and growing in His understanding. This is a reminder for us that our commitment to God is not just about attending church on Sundays or reading our Bibles once in a while. It's about continuously seeking to know Him more, to grow in our understanding, to engage with His Word, and to apply it in our lives. The fourth aspect we see in this passage is that commitment to God often involves sacrifice. Jesus' parents were worried and anxious when they couldn't find Him. Jesus could have avoided causing them this distress. But He chose to stay in the temple, to fulfill His commitment to His Father, even if it meant causing worry and misunderstanding. Are we willing to make sacrifices for our commitment to God? Are we willing to face misunderstanding, criticism, and even rejection for the sake of our commitment to Him?

The Significance of Christ’s Teenage Years in Our Journey

As we move forward, let's turn our attention to the significance of Luke 2:42-49 ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO