Priority One
Posted by Karah
Pause
Listen to the song “Draw Near” (Passion: Even So Come, 2015) as a prayer, inviting God to speak to you today.
Jesus’ experience at the temple revealed more than His wisdom and authority. It also revealed His priority and focus. Read Luke 2:48-52 in your Bible.
“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
—Luke 2:49
Mary and Joseph had known Jesus was no ordinary child since before His birth, but Scripture’s relative silence about His childhood seems to suggest that it was pretty normal. Now after years of normalcy, Jesus’ divine nature broke in again.
Think through these questions:
Why do you think Mary and Joseph were astonished by Jesus? Explain.
Mull over Jesus’ response to His parents in verse 49. How would you write it in your own words?
What does verse 49 teach you about Jesus’ identity and His understanding of His mission?
Respond
Jesus understood that He was God’s Son and that His life should be devoted to the things that mattered to God. As believers, Jesus hasn’t asked us to make Him one of many priorities in our lives. He is to be our priority. He is the lens through which we view everything and the One who shapes our actions, words, relationships—everything in our lives.
Evaluate your life. What are you devoted to? What absorbs most of your thoughts or time? Where do you spend most of your money? What is most important to you? Be honest as you list your thoughts in your journal.
If this examination reveals that something other than God is your primary focus, confess and repent today. Ask God to help you make the necessary changes to center your life on Him.
To learn more about Jesus’ priorities and those of His followers, read Matthew 6:33 and Matthew 22:36-40.
Behind the Story
Jesus’ family didn’t always understand His priorities. In John 7:2-5, His brothers didn’t yet believe in Him or understand what He was about. In Mark 3:21,31-32, His family thought He was crazy and tried to get control of Him. In John 2:1-11, Jesus and His mom didn’t share the same way of thinking.
Regardless of what other people thought, Jesus knew His purpose and would not be distracted from it. What about you? When your priorities revolve around God’s kingdom, even the people closest to you might not understand or agree. What will you do?
The Point
Jesus understood why He had to come and what His priorities were.
Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions