E-pistle for November 24, 2006
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President Freeway Foundation November 24, 2006
"A Day's Journey Away From God"
(Luke 2:43-46)
How far is a day's journey? That depends on the mode of travel. These days, we
are able to travel thousands of miles in a 24-hour period.
But when I was a boy in Southern Illinois, it took us a whole day to travel to and
from my home in Benton to visit my aunt in Marion . . . 17 miles away. Of course,
Grandpa's 1937 Dodge wasn't extremely reliable. We frequently had a flat tire, and the
road through Middle Fork Creek Bottoms near West Frankfort nearly always was an
adventurous ordeal.
Luke 2 tells us of Jesus and His parents visiting the temple in Jerusalem where,
at age 12, He celebrated Bar Mitzvah. Following this ceremony in which Jesus
officially became a "Son of the Law," we find an interesting and instructive account
of the journey back home to Nazareth.
A DAY'S JOURNEY
Joseph and Mary's "day's journey away from God" occurred immediately following
a high spiritual experience. Often this is the pattern, Elijah's journey away from God, for
example (I Kings 19: 3,4) occurred immediately following the mountain-top experience
on Carmel.
Notice, also, that Jesus did not leave his parents; they left Him. Always when there
is a breach in close fellowship with God, it is the man or woman who did the moving away.
Adam and Eve are the first example of this truth.
HOW IT HAPPENS
Mary and Joseph didn't realize . . . for a whole day . . . that Jesus was not with
them. Often our spiritual separation is unintentional, merely a gradual, unobserved
drifting away from the intimacy with God. Isaiah described this subtle wandering in
chapter 53, "All we like sheep have gone astray."
Although His parents didn't actually see Jesus with them personally, they
assumed He was present in the crowd. Sometimes we make the mistake of assuming
God is with us, when He isn't. What a sad commentary on God's chosen deliverer,
Samson: "He did not know that the Lord had departed from him," Judges 16:20.
Assuming that God is present (as in church, for instance) without actually experiencing
Him personally, is a mistake too many Christian make today.
SEARCHING FOR THE LORD
When Joseph and Mary finally missed Jesus, they started looking for Him in the
wrong places. Sometimes we too, use human logic or intensified effort in a vain attempt
to restore spiritual communion with God. It doesn't work! When we drift away, where
do we start looking for Jesus?
Finally, they realized who had left whom. Then they returned to the spot where
they had seen Him last. When we experience a spiritual estrangement, we should return
in memory (if not literally) to that spot where undeniable God's presence was manifested
to us.
REUNION AND RESTORATION
Although Joseph and Mary had gone away from Jesus only "a day's journey," it
took them three days to be reunited with Him. In the spiritual realm, full fellowship takes
time. Hosea forgave and accepted Gomer back into him home immediately, but it took
a period of time before the original relationship was completely restored.
The best place to look for Jesus after "a day's journey away from God" is in the
place where God is working: "about My Father's business," Luke 2:49. Persons seeking
restoration of fellowship with God should put themselves in the place where God is
manifesting Himself . . . where God is working in power. Frankly, when I find myself
cooling off spiritually, I go to a church, one where "Jesus is in the house."
HAPPY ENDING
When I was a boy, frequently I witnessed folks coming to the front pew at church
to "pray through." Sometimes a brother on one side of the kneeling penitent sinner
would advise "Turn loose!" while a brother on the other side would suggest "Hold on!"
Such anxious searching for Jesus is not necessary, if we come to Him with a broken
and contrite heart. He always is available to be found, if we look in the right place.
The story in Luke 2 closes with Jesus going to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary.
The message to us is obvious. When we invite Him to do so, the broken relationship
is restored and He accompanies us all the way home.
He promised, "I am with you always!"
Praying With The Affection Of Christ
(Philippians 1:8-11)
I. Concentration: on Paul's prayer for the Philippians (vv. 8-11)
1. That your love may abound still more in knowledge and all discernment.
2. That you may approve the things that are excellent.
3. That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
4. (That you may be) filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by
Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual traits in this text
1. Spiritual vision, v. 9.
2. Spiritual values, v. 10.
3. Spiritual virtue, v. 10.
4. Spiritual vitality, v. 11.
III. Revelation: spiritual discernment regarding these ideas
1. Abounding love results from knowing Christ intimately and discerning
His will . . . spiritual vision.
2. Such love (knowledge and discernment) causes a believer to be pleased
with (accept and commend) things that are worthy, choice, and remarkably
good . . . spiritual values.
3. Spiritual vision (#1) plus spiritual values (#2) produces spiritual virtue:
integrity – "sincere and without offense," v. 10.
4. Spiritual vision (#1) plus spiritual values (#2) plus spiritual virtue (#3) produce
spiritual vitality . . . fruitfulness: "Filled with the fruits of righteousness," v. 11.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to cultivate . . .
1. Spiritual vision – knowledge and discernment of God's love.
2. Spiritual values – accepting and commending God's best.
3. Spiritual virtues – integrity: sincerity without offense.
4. Spiritual vitality – bearing much fruit.
PRAYER: Lord give me greater knowledge of Your love and greater discernment of Your
purpose. Help me to prioritize the things which are spiritually excellent and
valuable. Strengthen me to walk in unfailing integrity. Use me to produce
abundant fruits of righteousness. AMEN
In The Beginning
(John 1:1, 3, 14, 16-17)
In the beginning was the Word,
And the Word was Jesus Christ;
His was the voice Creation heard,
His the body sacrificed.
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
This our song of grateful praise.
All things were made through Christ the King,
Through His pow'r the world began;
In Him was life, let praises ring,
Jesus is the light of man.
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise,
This our song of grateful praise.
Word became flesh and dwelt on earth,
We beheld His glory bright;
God's only Son was He at birth,
Grace and truth in Him unite.
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise,
This our song of grateful praise.
Of Jesus' fullness we receive,
Grace for grace, sin to destroy;
Law showed our hearts and made us grieve,
Christ forgave and brought us joy.
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise,
This our song of grateful praise.
(Tune: For the Beauty of the Earth)
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