“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)
“Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:41-47 NIV)
The things in the account above may not be new but they are rare. At least, they are rare when compared to the way things are today. Could you imagine a twelve-year-old sitting around talking to his teachers? Today most of them would rather be out playing with their friends, playing video games or many other things. Today we do hear of young people who are super intelligent who have at least one college degree by their mid-teens. We hear of others who are talented in certain areas that are eager to spend time with those who can help them develop their talent further.
The one thing that might be new here is the way Jesus understood what the teachers were telling Him and also the answers He gave to their questions. Why should we be surprised at this? If they had believed He was the Son of God then they would have known that He was the Word of God.
Jesus is the answer to all our questions. We must spend time with Him through reading the Bible and through prayer not just to know the answers but to know the Word of God. We can ask Him anything and He will provide what we need. We can talk straight to Him and not have to go through someone else. We don’t have to ask someone else to pray for us. We can go straight to the throne room of God and talk to Jesus ourselves. Jesus told us to ask and it will be given to us. Seek and we shall find. Knock and the door will be opened.
All Christians need to have a time for daily Bible study and prayer. This may be a new thing for you, but it must be done to find out all that Jesus has for you. Just as Jesus spent time with the teachers, each one of us needs to spend time with our Teacher, Jesus Christ, the Word of God.
By Dean W. Masters