His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days required, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it. Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!” And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” And yet they on their part did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people. (Luke 2:41-52 New American Standard Version)
It’s becoming a habit! I not only have a special meditation on Monday called the Monday Short, but at some point, near the middle or latter of the week, I have been moved to share with you some of the points of emphasis that our Senior Pastor at Salt Of The Earth (Indianapolis), Rev. Marcus R. King, emphasized in the Sunday, specific message; a specific word that God sent specifically to Him to communicate to the congregation. Hence, for the rest of this month, on top of the Monday Short, I will have a special meditation entitled, “A Sunday Share.” It will serve two purposes. First, it will reinforce that we not only have to have ears to hear, but we need to have a heart to remember. And once we have done some remembering, we need to follow that up with some reviewing, and then, with integrity, recognize the specific applicability to our lives, personally. This will ensure that we react every day to improve our living. (Read those last couple of sentences again!) Second, if you were not in the place where Pastor preached, I can share some points on which you can contemplate, consume, and consciously apply to your life.
Here are some of the things that spoke specifically to me: (1) We should strive to meet the required expectation to go to church; not forsaking the assembly of the saints. (2) After the benediction at the end of the service on Sunday, we are not done with “church.” “Church” goes out the sanctuary and throughout the week as we let the Christ who lives in us be seen by others. (Stop and say, “Amen” right here!) (3) As the earthly father in the text above expected His child to meet the requirement of being in the temple, our Heavenly Father, as expressed in His inspired word (Hebrews 10:25), requires us to be in the assembly of the saints. (If you must, look up that verse!) (4) Isolation is the enemy of spiritual development. (As one of my younger sons would reply, “He ain’t lying!) (5) Interacting with other church folks helps spiritual growth. (5) When people find us, wherever we are after church service ends, we should still be “in church.” (Think about that last one and think how you believe like a believer, behave like a believer, and be found guilty of still doing church as a witness for the Lord…wherever!). I think I have shared enough, but as I said in the first sentence of this paragraph, these “are some of the things that spoke specifically to me.”
Look! I know you are not “one of them,” but don’t you know there are many who attended church, all over the world this past Sunday, and they could not tell you the title of the sermon, and don’t even try asking where the text was found in the Bible. Well, this has been “A Sunday Share.” This is not Facebook, but as my great-granddaughter would say when she posts a mentoring video, “And don’t forget to share this with others!” Be blessed!
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King