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Luke 2:41-46 – Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover. And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. (NASB)
Several days ago, my wife and I watched a 2004 movie entitled, Mary Of Nazareth: With Jesus From Birth To Death. A particular scene caught my attention as being amusing as well as anecdotal. However, the implications of the story are not only dire, but serious.
The narrative has Mary and Joseph returning from the Feast of Passover unaware that their Son was not with them. Our passage states that they were searching for three days until they finally found Him conversing with teachers in the temple. The question immediately came to mind, "How do you lose the Son of God?" Can you contemplate the frustration and the fear of losing the Messiah?
Consider: After travelling a whole day, Mary approaches Joseph and says, "Where's Jesus?" Joseph replies, "I thought He was with you!" Then Mary responds, "No, I thought He was with you!" And they go at it. Also, if this scene were set in any modern, major city today, imagine where one would look: on a street corner, in an arcade, or maybe with other children at a hot dog stand — certainly not in church.
The Bible describes the scenario: "And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking Him." (Luke 2:45 KJV) What a statement! The search is on: People in the Old Testament waited for Him for thousands of years; at His birth, shepherds sought Him, wise men followed a star to find Him, and His enemy, Herod, sought to kill Him; and now, His parents are seeking Him. Finally, after three days, the Bible informs us, Joseph and Mary found their boy Jesus.
Have you ever lost God's Son? Are there points in your life when you are so distracted by stressful, distressing, or anxious situations that you lose sight of God's Son? Often, when we find ourselves in nerve-racking situations, like sitting in traffic, our carnal nature can easily lose sight of Christ, and we may also become angry. Perhaps when we are facing a problem at work, a financial crisis, a family dispute, a tragedy, or a serious illness, do we lose the Son of God in our life? Whom do we seek when adverse situations occur? God's Word does comfort us during our time of need:
Matthew 7:8 – For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (KJV)
Isaiah 55:6 – Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. (KJV)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know that You watch over all Your children. You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. May we trust not in our own righteousness, but in Your mercy. Comfort us and give us joy, knowing that You are there, not only in good times, but in bad times as well. Give us peace of mind with confidence that You are with us always. Make us each worthy in Your righteousness to be called a child of Yours. In Jesus' mighty and precious name, we pray. Amen.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – In Paris, Ontario — Pray for the fall Alpha series that is running at Paris Community Church, Paris, Ontario, that through this ministry, people may be better connected with one another and take a step closer in faith to Jesus.
Pray for healing-Update DS: "Update October 13, 2024: The result is that the operation is possible, but fraught with..." 
Thank you Lou for sharing this with us, so powerful.
Good perspective Lou. Never thought about it like that.
Hi Lou!
Thanks for writing to us!
Dear Lou,
Just wanted to let you know your devotional was insightful and inspiring.
Have a blessed day!
Thank you Lou, I really needed to be reminded to trust in God, after five days with my family. He showed me I need to keep them in prayer and trust them to Him. Your devotional confirmed His command and gave me peace.
Dear Lou,
Thank you for a thoughtful devotional. I don’t know what I would do if I lost the Son of God. Thank the Lord I don’t have to experience that loss; He is with me all the time. Praise God! Keep writing!
God bless.
Dear Lou: Thanks for your message. It reminded me that it was strange to set out on a long journey on foot without doing it as a family with Jesus beside them. You don’t just start walking. By that time Joseph and Mary probably had other children. Would all of them be walking on their own with cousins or neighbors, not getting together for water to drink and for meals as a family?
Many times in our lives, we face trials and tribulations and we let doubt creep into our minds, causing us to lose sight of our ever-present Lord, even temporarily. Thank you for the excellent reminder to always seek God and trust in Him no matter what.
Please do continue to write.
God bless.
Thank you, Lou, for that uplifting Devotional.
I get up every morning praising God for keeping my ailing & physically-handicapped 80+ year old better half & I alive & keeping us in fairly good health & all of our loved ones safe & sound and thanking Him for all He has done for us & humanity and singing our favourite morning hymn: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in Him” (Psalm 118:24)
After breakfast I get the time to go to the computer and the first thing I read are the devotionals, and one of my favourite devotionals are from that marvellous team of Lou & Lori Ciccanti… they inspire me to tackle the tough issues of the day.
Keep up the good work, folks!
Blessings.
Dear Lou,
Thank you for your devotional today.
I remember several years ago a buddy and I went to a trailer show with his sons and his youngest son wandered off without us knowing it. We were starting to get very nervous not finding his son (and didn’t know how to tell his wife we lost a child in the crowd.) Thankfully, his son was just a few trailers over where he was looking around inside a trailer having a great ol’ time climbing on the beds unaware we were panicking. From then on we kept him at arm’s length.
But getting back to the account of Jesus as a young boy, it has always been interesting to me that Jesus was not afraid to spend 3 nights away from his earthly parents, presumably sleeping at the temple. If I were only 12 years old on a journey with my parents and was accidentally left behind in a far off city all by myself for 3 days/nights I’d be freaking out as to where to stay, what to eat, who to trust? But Jesus had none of those fears because He was at Home in the House of the Lord – his Father.
Thank you Lord Jesus we can always trust You with all our concerns.
Dear Lou,
Comfort us and give us joy, knowing that You are there, not only in good times but in bad times as well. Give us peace of mind with confidence that You are with us always. Make us each worthy in Your righteousness to be called a child of Yours. In Jesus’ mighty and precious name, we pray. Amen.
I am with you in your devotional. We need our Lord day by day, moment by moment..
We can never be worthy OF Jesus righteousness. His righteousness is a free gift to us. Because he endows us with his righteousness, we are so appreciative that we grow more to be like him. I’m glad you prayed, “Make us each worthy IN his righteousness.”.
Thanks.