Luke Chapter 2:48-52(NIV-UK)
When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’
‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?
’But they did not understand what he was saying to them.Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Jesus was already growing and maturing spiritually beyond what His parents were able to understand. He was putting His relationship with God first, but He also did everything that His earthly parents required of Him as He grew. He did not lord it over them, and would later remind His disciples that He had come to serve and not to be served. (Matthew 20:28)
It is always right for Christians to put God first in our lives. That is what we are commanded to do. Perhaps our families and friends, if they are not actively seeking to follow Jesus, might not be able to understand why. They may even question our priorities. But we must never get high handed and be careful that we respond to their queries, and maybe even their rebuke, with the grace that Jesus did to Mary and Joseph, and also make sure that we treat our families as we are commanded to, even if they give us a hard time for seeking to practice our faith.
Dear Lord,
Even as a young boy Jesus lived His life as an example to us. Help me to follow that example I pray. In Jesus’ precious Name. Amen.