Family of God: [FamilyofGod] what shall we do?

What Must We Do?

Luke 2:49:
And he [Jesus] said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist [know] ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
These are the first recorded words of Jesus Christ when he was twelve years old. His last recorded words before his death are found in John 19:30. There, it says that when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. All the time between those two accounts, we find Jesus actively pursuing the things of his Father. He was about his Father's business.

We know that Jesus' adoptive, earthly father, Joseph, was a carpenter and Jesus followed him in that trade. However, Jesus, here in Luke 2:49, was talking about his heavenly Father. Jesus got after the things of his heavenly Father. Jesus always did the things that pleased His Father. In John 4:34 Jesus said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." He's our example and we follow in his steps. That was the secret to his ministry. He was always about his Father's business.

Jesus was only 12 years old, yet his response to his parents' inquiry showed he had already developed quite a relationship with his heavenly Father. "Must" indicates a sense of obligation, certainty, and necessity. Jesus' comparing doing the will of his father to eating in John 4:34 supports that sense obligation, certainty, and necessity he felt. Like Job, Jesus esteemed the Word of God more than his necessary food. (Job 23:12) Its direction was trustworthy.

What did Jesus know about God, himself and life that he would respond in this manner? What must we learn to follow in his steps? Luke 2:46 says that after three days his parents found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. At twelve years of age Jesus was versed in His Father's Word. He knew Who God was, who he was, and what the purpose of his life was, because he read it in God's Word.

The Word of God was more than a curiosity for him. It was more than an intellectual pursuit. It was the way by which he developed his relationship with his Father. Relationships are built upon mutual love and respect. Commitments are made and accountability is understood. He knew the Word was true. He knew that what he read were words of life, and he directed his life according to them.

We will only find the answer to, "What must we do?" by listening to the voice of God. We will hear it in His Word and in the revelation He gives to clarify its specifics for us. When we realize the same sense of obligation, certainty, and necessity that Jesus had, we, too, will be about our Father's business. "I must be about my Father's business." I like the way that sounds. I like the direction it provides. I like the certainty it promotes.

I must means, I am in such a compelling set of circumstances that my next move is almost without choice. The impact of must is to almost remove our choice. After all, if we must do something, what choice do we really have. If we believe the must we defer the option to choose. If on the other hand we do not believe the must, we can opt not to do it. The force or impact of the must negates our will to do the opposite. Freewill is always involved, but we resolve to do what we must.

Let's walk in the steps of Jesus Christ and be about our Father's business. The business is always expanding, and there is always room for one more. You've been offered the position. Do you want the job?