What's Your Business?
- kmlemen
- Sep 15, 2024
- 5 min read
Hapy September 15th, FOTV fam, and welcome to this month’s edition of The Overflow! This one is coming to you from Tampa, Florida as I just wrapped up a few days of soaking in God’s presence and soaking up godly wisdom from a few of my own personal heroes in the faith.
I had the joy and privilege of attending Joyce Meyer’s “Love Life” conference, and coming out of the final day and after saying goodbye to my friends, I find myself sitting here reflecting on the many things I heard and pray take root in me. As I think about what is spilling over in me right now, there is one specific scripture that was referenced very briefly in one of the sermons that for whatever reason, struck something in me – it was a verse found in the story of a young Jesus, and it’s where we see His very first words ever spoken and recorded in the Bible.
The story is found in Luke 2:41-52, where Jesus had gone to Jerusalem with His family for the Passover feast. This is the only place in the Bible that addresses Jesus’ life between His infancy and the beginning of His ministry. So, we get only one small window into His childhood through a story that allows us to meet Him at 12 years old. In it, we are privy to only a few lines of red letters and then nothing else is recorded about Him for another 18 years.
I encourage you to read the full passage but essentially at the end of the festival, Jesus’ parents started the journey back home without realizing that Jesus had stayed behind in Jerusalem. (Before you judge too hard, it might not be as obvious as you may think because they would’ve been traveling in a large group of extended family, friends and community.) However, after a day of travel, they began looking for Him and realized He was missing so they turned back to Jerusalem. (Swerving here for just a sec – can we just let that preach for a moment and highlight this as an example to follow: if you ever realize that you’ve left Jesus behind – turn around and go back!!)
The Word says that after three anxious days of searching, they found Jesus in the temple courts where He was sitting among the teachers listening and asking them questions – an effective method we would often see Him use later in His ministry. It says that everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding. Upon finding Him, Mary asked Him why He had done this and that she and His father had been looking for him. And this next statement is the very first recorded thing we ever hear Jesus say:
Jesus replies in verse 49, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Quick disclaimer: if you look at this verse, there are a few translations –some say, “I must be about my Father’s business” and some say “I must be in my Father’s house” – there is a reason for this as there is some room for interpretation because of the original text’s sentence structure and a question of what should be inferred due to a lack of a direct subject mentioned… but can I just propose a thought to you that both are true and right? But for the context of what I want to talk about, I am referring to Jesus being about the Father’s business.
This is what I want to focus on. These two sentences spoken by Jesus as a pre-teen set the tone for everything He would ever do – this is His purpose and it is why He came, to do the Father’s will. We the same sentiment echoing throughout His entire life and ministry. (See John 5:30, John 6:38, John 14:31, Matt 26:39)
Through this question and declaration spoken, we see that Jesus is very aware of His direct Sonship to God and He is professing that His Father in heaven’s business is the highest-ranking order in His life – more than His earthly parents, more than anything.
But before you start to suspect Jesus of having a rebellious or dishonoring heart towards His parents or use it as an excuse to disregard your own parents or authority in totality, please note that the very next lines of the text that say that His parents did not understand the statement which He spoke, and that He then went back home with them and was subject to them as He increased in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and men. So, for the next 18 years, it appears that God wanted Jesus to be at home with His parents to grow and mature. Since Jesus was only about the Father’s business, we can gather that submitting to and honoring His parents/authority is most certainly something that God must care a lot about.
As we look forward, when we meet Jesus again in the pages of scripture 18 years later, we will see time and time again that what He declared at a young age remains true: He only does what the Father does or desires (John 5:19, John 12:49). And you know what? He desires and requires the same thing for us as His followers. This is what we are called to (Matt 7:21, Eph 5:17).
So, my question is – who’s business are you about? Are you preoccupied with your own business? Are you even aware of what His business is, or are you so consumed with everyone else’s business that you are unsure of what He desires for your life?
When Jesus went ‘missing’, He was not lost. He was exactly where He was supposed to be as the Son of God immersed in the work of God. My friend, there are particular affairs and matters which the Father wants you to be about!!
So, my prayer is that this story reminds you of your purpose. May we be like Jesus where we are so confident as precious sons and daughters of God that we don’t think twice about why we are here. May we go to and fro knowing that we are business partners with the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Lastly, as with every newsletter, I also want to share some content that has benefited me this month. I hope it spurs you on in your faith walk too - links below:
Pretty sure that this will be my standard sign off, so as always – I pray you remember this truth: your life and what you do with it matters. The world needs you, and as you follow and remain in Jesus, you WILL bear fruit!
Much Love,
Kellie
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