“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”
Quite often we take good initiatives, inspired by God or on our own. But unfortunately, how often along the way do we forget our primary goal? What seems anecdotal in Scripture is, sadly, a tragedy that often repeats itself in our lives. Joseph and his wife were in Jerusalem for Passover, but on their return journey, they forgot the Son of God; they abandoned God, even though their life's vocation was entirely focused on the Lord, both in their family life and in their spiritual lives.
This story so often plays out in our lives, in the most dramatic circumstances as well as in those that seem less serious. Many "Men of God" have created movements to this day, driven by the desire to glorify God in the hearts of men, to bring many back to the Everlasting Father. But along the way, they have become more attached to the glory of men, to having many "faithful" members in their denomination. They have left Christ behind! For some, when God wanted to increase the level of revelation, the level of integrity, or the foundation in Christ, they feared losing "faithful" members; they were afraid, and in doing so, they left Christ behind!
You might not feel concerned by the first examples, but it is so often evident even in seemingly legitimate things. That job for which you begged God for years, are you still doing it to the Glory of Almighty God? And what about that husband, that wife—does your relationship remain under the Lordship of Christ, or has He (Christ) in the meantime seemed to you to be one too many?
In discussions, this problem so often arises: Here is a brother happily committed to the Gospel, but during his preaching, running out of "arguments," he resorts to inappropriate explanations or examples, or worse, manipulation, which, in his own conscience, doesn't align with what he wants to demonstrate. He thus leaves Christ behind. Insofar as he places the need, or rather the desire, to convince someone above his own need to live Christ, that is, to live the Truth, to speak according to the Truth.
This is also often the case in the doctrinal discussions we so frequently engage in. While it is true that we may sometimes want to convince a Brother of a heresy or error, let us remember that, even if we are not formally instructed by the Spirit, we must at least be approved by Him in every word that comes out of our mouth, and above all, never act against Him, that is, against His injunctions to our own conscience. If the goal of the discussion is to convince because we are convinced we are "right," our supreme goal in life—while sleeping, eating, praying, discussing, and so on—remains to follow Christ, and therefore to remain submitted to His Holy Spirit!
Let us never abandon Christ when returning from worship!
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