While my daughter and I were downtown, we stopped off at the local book shop to peruse the childrens book section with my grandson, Thomas. I was pleasantly surprised to see many older titles I thought may have been out of print alongside newly published authors. We made our selection and headed to the cashier.
The helpful young woman behind the counter checked the back stock for two other books, one of which was not available as a board book. As she took down my information to contact me when the available title arrived, I heard myself telling her that this copy would be for Thomas because the copy I have is almost twenty-five years old and belonged to my son, Jacob.
Twenty-five years. All at once, I was sitting in the floor reading with my own children. Each one had their favorite stories and I’ve tried to save the best of them, hoping to one day share them with their children. Today was one of those days.
Thomas loves books so we have already covered many of his mother’s childhood favorites. Recently we read Are You My Mother? by P D Eastman. A baby bird hatches from its egg while its mother is away from the nest. It searches high and low and meets many animals and objects that are not its mother before being dropped back into its nest by a large machine it calls a snort. Mother bird returns and immediately, baby bird recognizes her as its mother.
When Jesus’s mother comes looking for him on two different occasions, his answers baffle her, as they probably do many of us still today. Jesus had a way with words that is not easily dismissed. Whether or not people agreed, He provoked deep thought and even deeper emotions. His parables and answers confounded the listeners of His day until after the Holy Spirit was given to teach and remind His followers of His spoken word. (John 14:26) We are beneficiaries of this gift by faith in God through Jesus, and we become light for others to see Him.
“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.6.NLT
“Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.
After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers.
But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
His parents didn’t know what to think.
“Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they didn’t understand what he meant.”
Luke 2:41-50 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.2.41-48.NLT
Mary and Joseph knew by divine revelation that Jesus’s Father is God. We who trust in the gift of God for eternal life know that Jesus is God’s Son. So why do we search? Are we afraid, like Mary, that we may have lost the Son of God, as if anything could separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? (Romans 8:38-39)
“One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again.
Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.
When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away.
“He’s out of his mind,” they said.
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him.
They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them.
There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.”
Jesus replied,
“Who is my mother?
Who are my brothers?”
Then he looked at those around him and said,
“Look, these are my mother and brothers.
Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.””
Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.3.20-35.NLT
“His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.
But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”
Matthew 13:10-12, 16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.13.10-16.NLT
““Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
Matthew 7:21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.21.NLT
Think long and hard on the words of Jesus. They are life and they are light. Keep in step with His Spirit and be encouraged, brother. Your salvation is sure. You bear His seal. You belong to Christ, redeemed at His expense. Rejoice, sister. Worship the One who promised. He alone is faithful. He can be trusted to keep His promise.
“God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Numbers 23:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/num.23.19.NLT
“So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
And now you have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you.
And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people.
He did this so we would praise and glorify him.”
Ephesians 1:6-11, 13-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.1.9-14.NLT
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.10.23-25.NLT
““You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.
Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.14-15.NLT
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
A Fitting Reply 