"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him....Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them....And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."(Lk. 2:40, 51,52)
The word translated, "subject," means to come under authority, to be in submission." This is integral to "wisdom, and stature, and...favor with God and men." Our King and Savior, Jesus, spent 30 years preparing for 3 years of ministry. Of course we know better today. Most pastors spend 3 years preparing for 30 years of ministry. When I was younger, I never liked to hear people remind me that Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert. The reality: Moses was 80 when he began his "ministry." I started "full-time" at the proven age of 20.
During the charismatic renewal of the 60's and 70's, it was not unusual to see people who had just surrendered their lives to Jesus, no Christian tradition, no Church experience, starting "churches," teaching, etc. Derek Prince once said that no man should be ordained an elder under the age of 30. He also said that no man should be in spiritual authority in the Church who had never suffered. One may issue the great, "Yes, but," yet Derek's statements have more Biblical examples than any, "Yes, but." To those who like to bring up the Apostle Paul as an example of "immediate" ministry, I remind them that Paul had been trained in the Scriptures, a Pharisee, whose whole life was given to the "God-Breathed" Word. All twelve of Jesus' disciples spent 24/7 with Him, watching, learning before they were sent out.
"I am among you as one who serves." This was not an isolated spiritual principle. This was a part of the, "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Those so-called "silent years" of Jesus were spent in day to day living, obedient to Joseph and Mary, working with wood, fetching water, responsibility for His younger siblings, and most likely witnessing the death of the man who was His mentor and cared so faithfully for Him during those "early" years. "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered." Far too many times people render this passage to some ephemeral realm.
The truth of walking in Jesus Christ is that there are truths which we confront all our lives and which we put on the proverbial "back burner." But as His Name, "Faithful and True," Our Lord Jesus keeps Truth before us. 2010 will give many more opportunities to bring issues to the front burner.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I readily admit the continual need for learning obedience. Amen.
*****************************************
Prophetic News: www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive: www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
