Greco, El, The Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1610

 1907grec

Luke 2:46-51

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Hebrews 5:7-8

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

John 13:3-5

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Matthew 20:27-28

27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I’m running away today.  I’m going to go to St. Louis, spend the night with a friend and not come back until Thursday.   I need to do this because…well…sometimes the important but seemingly menial acts of homeschooling and homemaking take their toll on me.  Serving three people all day every day can be challenging.  Submitting and obeying the Lord in this life of serving can also be a challenge.  Yes…I need me time.  At least that is what I have been thinking in the last 24 hours.   

 Submission, obedience, menial acts and serving.  Four things I can struggle with either often or from time to time.  But as I contemplate these four passages I am silenced.  And really I am not sure I can write anything.  Perhaps I should just get down on my knees or even lay face down on the floor. 

I am most taken aback by Jesus learning obedience.  To think of Him learning…what it is to obey yet not sinning is almost too much for me.  Serving with the right heart, his loved ones AND the selfish and His enemies.  Performing menial acts when He was capable of so much more.  Submitting to parents, when He was THE parent. 

In all of these things…I’m still learning to do them and to do them well.  And I feel all I can do right now is to be in awe of He who did them all without sin.  In fact, He most likely did them joyfully.  I love this about my Savior and it makes me want to keep following Him and His ways.

To do right now:  Meditate on the verse above.  Consider Jesus performing menial acts as you go about your menial acts today.  Write your own thoughts on these passages.  Listen to the song Joy Has Dawned.

Beyond the Nativity Week 3 PDF

Linking up with these sweet sites today:

SimplyHelpingHim      WIPWednesday 

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