Scripture
“Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49

Observation
At some stage love for and allegiance to our heavenly Father must become stronger than any other relationship. There are many stages of faith, but this is the first and most important. For most, born into a happy family, the love of father and mother is the most secure love they have known. For many, that love is only surpassed by the love of a husband or wife. But there is another step beyond that. There is a miracle grow sprinkled on us that causes us to zoom up in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man when we discover that the love of our heavenly Father eclipses all human love.

When the boy Jesus walked into the Temple he knew at once that he was home. Later in life he would gravitate to the Temple like some would head home for the holidays. His love for the Temple was so great that he would fly in a rage to drive out intruders, or he would sit quietly and watch for a widow giving coins who loved just like he loved. Imagine the child Jesus walking in, looking up and around though clouds of incense at columns and carvings and seeing through the altar smoke seeing the doors that led into the Holy Place.

Until that moment, perhaps Jesus sensed an oddness about his family relationship. As caring as Joseph was, he felt a disconnection. He was searching for his father. In the Temple somehow he knew he had found him. In his childish understanding, because he had found home he knew that he had to stay.

Application
When will I make this choice? For Jesus it came at age 12. For some, this choice is never made. They live in some other house rather than their Father’s house because they have not let God’s love loom larger than any other love. Maybe they are stuck in the love of parents. Perhaps there was something lacking or abusive at home so they have been searching for love. For some it is the fear of not having someone to love them so they accept the love of those who hurt them. For others the love of family is replaced with friends, pets or even their own children. All the while the door of our Father’s house stands open luring us into a relationship that few have known. It is the choice to leave our human father’s house and to step into our heavenly Father’s house that makes all the difference.

Prayer
Father, I hear you say this day that I have received my fathers blessing and now I must go and spread your word far and wide. I yield myself to you. I am at home only with you. Amen.