Daily Thoughts about God

by Marilyn Ehle

“He said to them, “How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father’s house and [occupied] about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49 (Amplified Bible)

History abounds with stories of successful people who learned the family business by working alongside parents or others, learning “from the ground up.” My husband talks about how he learned from his dad to pull wires through conduit in the electrical trade. (He also learned to keep fingers and tools away from objects “hot” with electricity!) Those learning a business, especially in the building trades, work years under the supervision of an expert. They observe their mentors, study facts and work in practical situations.

Those of us well acquainted with the Christian tradition easily forget that Jesus spent 30 years “learning the business.” We read the story of Jesus’ experience in the Temple with religious leaders and may assume that He was teaching them. But most scholars agree that Jesus’ position would have been in the style and manner of a learner. True, the rabbis were “astonished and bewildered at His intelligence and understanding,” but since—as He would frequently say later—“His time had not yet come,” after that scene in the Temple “…he went down to Nazareth with (His parents) and was obedient to them… As Jesus grew up, He increased in wisdom and in favor with God and people.”

We too must spend extended time learning the business of what it means to be a Christ follower, an apprentice of Jesus. God lays out facts to follow and gives us time to work out those facts in the arena of Kingdom living. We observe the One who lived and worked and talked in real time to learn how to build relationships and complete the mandate He gave.

And, perhaps most comforting when the arena seems fraught with the lions of discouragement and despair, when we wonder if we will ever understand “the business,” we cling to the words, “We do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities…but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. (Hebrews 4:15, Amplified Bible)

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2011/09/25/me_learning-the-business/
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Short Thoughts for Cell Phones – God-daily.com

by John Grant

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me – put it into practice.” Philippians 4:9

As we walked along the streets of what was once ancient Philippi, I could just imagine the traffic that street had seen. When we got to the administrative area, I realized that this is where Paul and Silas were physically abused, wrongfully accused and thrown into jail. I thought of the earthquake that freed them from the stocks that held their feet and how Paul put the jailer’s salvation ahead of his own freedom.

But what really was on my mind was what Paul later wrote to the church at Philippi. After being beaten, jailed and otherwise abused I am surprised that he didn’t want to forget about such a place. But, as he was in prison himself, later in Rome, he wrote a letter to them which is my favorite book in the Bible. From it we learn a lot of lessons about life and living.

While at the ruins, I found a quiet place and sat down to read all four chapters, closely and carefully. Wow, what an experience to sit alongside a street in Philippi and read the letter Paul wrote to the people there.

He begins by reminding them that he is praying for them. That is relationship. He says he is sure that they will complete the work they began together. That’s confidence and partnership. He reminds them that whatever happens that they should conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. That is challenge and affirmation.

He reminds them, and all of us who read his letter, that everything of the world, no matter how much we have, is but rubbish compared to gaining Christ. He reminds them to think of heavenly things, as their citizenship is in heaven.

Lastly, he reminds them to rejoice in all things and to be anxious for nothing and to present their petitions to God and put their faith in practice. Paul gives us through this letter the basic tools for the daily living of our lives.

Philippians is my favorite book of the Bible, one I have read many times, but never like this sitting along the streets of Philippi. These rocks and ancient ruins sing out with history going back hundreds of years before Christ, but the Gospel cries out even louder. Oh, that I could live the life Paul outlines in this book.

But, I am encouraged, as Paul says in Chapter 3 that even he has not yet obtained perfection, but he presses on to take hold of what Christ once took hold for him, and that’s a life lesson for us all. We all are not perfect, but Jesus encourages and entreats us to press on to the upward calling. There is no greater goal in life.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2011/09/25/jg_lessons-from-philippi/
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

Learning the Business

Life Lessons from Philippi

Daily Thoughts about God Posts

Learning the Business

Life Lessons from Philippi