TLIC Family. PROVERBS. DECEMBER 27: FATHER’S.

THINK TOGETHER.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 6:20. My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

In Jesus’ day you didn’t have much choice about what you would be when you grew up. Almost always a child grew up and did what their parents did. Almost every boy did the same job as their father, and almost every girl grew up to get married and help with the family business. Jesus was no exception to this. His earthly father, Joseph, was a craftsman. He built things out of wood and stone. And that’s what Jesus would grow up to do too. But Jesus had two fathers didn’t he? His earthly father, Joseph, and his heavenly father, God the Father.

The Bible tells a story of Jesus at twelve years old visiting Jerusalem with his parents for one of the feasts. On the journey home Mary and Joseph realize they have forgotten Jesus back in Jerusalem, and they are very worried. Eventually, they find him in the temple debating with the religious leaders (sort of like finding a twelve-year-old teaching in a college). Here’s how Luke describes it:

Luke 2:48-49. ⁴⁸And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Jesus would begin to learn Joseph’s work in Joseph’s house, but he also had to learn God’s work in God’s house. And so do you. What do you want to be when you grow up? Well the more important question is WHO do you want to be as you grow up? Do you want to be God’s child who does what God does – love, serve, forgive, care, share, and tell others about Jesus? That will always be much more important than any job you choose.

Because of Jesus we always know what God wants us to do, be like Jesus.

With Jesus we can love and serve like him.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Talk about what we want to be when we grow up. What will it take to get there? What does it take to grow up to be like Jesus?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, help me to keep growing like you did so I can trust God like you did. Amen.