God has big plans for you that you can’t see right now

The following devotion is excerpted from our brand new devotional, Faith Forward Family Devotional. Gather your family together to learn from Luke 2 how God is teaching and preparing us for a work He wants to do through us.
XO, Ruth

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Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
LUKE 2:52

Mary and Joseph were crammed in the middle of the crowds, and so was Jesus. But at some point, when the Passover festival was over and His parents were heading home, Jesus wandered off. It took Joseph and Mary a day to figure out He was not with them.  

Returning to Jerusalem, they spotted Him. He wasn’t goofing off or hanging out with friends. He was in the temple—listening to and asking questions of the religious leaders. People were amazed with Jesus because He was only twelve.

But then His parents showed up. “Didn’t you know your father and I were looking for you?” asked His mother. With respect, Jesus answered, “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?” Jesus knew He was God’s Son. He knew God the Father had sent Him as Savior and King. But He also knew His time had not yet come. So He obeyed His parents, following them all the way home this time.

We’re not told a lot about Jesus’ childhood. But we are told that He went home and grew in “wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” God the Father was preparing Him, getting Him ready for His work in the world.

God does the same with us. The ways He is growing us today is important for how God will use us in the future!

You might not know it yet. You might not be able to see it yet. But God is teaching you and preparing you for a work He wants to do through you. So keep growing. Keep learning. Keep loving God. He has big plans for you that you can’t see right now.

Key Idea: Jesus knew He was the Son of God. From an early age, Jesus knew that He was God’s Son sent to accomplish the work of God the Father.

Here are a few questions to think about and discuss with your family:

• In what ways do you think Jesus grew?

• Why is it important to keep growing now so we can be used by God later?

• What is one way you can continue to grow in your relationship with God?

Let’s pray:

Father, continue to teach us. Help us grow in our knowledge of You and our love for You. We want You to work through us now and as we grow older. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Faith Forward Family Devotional is written for families with children of all ages to help equip and inspire you to raise another generation to love and serve Jesus.

In just a few minutes a day, at your own pace, you can take your family through the entire Bible in one hundred devotions.

Grow closer to your kids as they grow closer to God.

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