JESUS WAS ABOUT HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS

Luke 2:49 KJV (WS)

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

ILLUSTRATION:

In his book Thoughts in Solitude, Thomas Merton wrote fifteen lines that have become known as “the Merton Prayer”:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

1. DOING THE FATHER’S WORK

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.—John 10:37

2. PROCLAIMING THE FATHER’S WORDS

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.—John 17:8

3. REVEALING THE FATHER’S CHARACTER

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.—John 1:18

4. CARRYING ON THE FATHER’S WILL

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.—Luke 22:42

5. GLORIFYING THE FATHER’S NAME

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.—John 12:28

6. BRINGING TO THE FATHER’S HOUSE

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.—John 14:2

7. UNFOLDING THE FATHER’S LOVE

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.—John 16:27