My Father's business

What is holding us back from being able to say honestly, humbly, and confidently, “I must be about my Father’s business?”

Luke’s account of the birth of Christ includes a scene from Jesus’ childhood, age 12. The location - Jerusalem, the event - the Feast of the Passover. It’s here the story picks up:

When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it.

…After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’

And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. (Luke 2:41-50)

It is on the topic of our Father’s business that we write today.

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“I must be about My Father’s business.” Can we say this about our lives?

To truthfully speak such a statement requires both desire and knowledge.

As a desire, it demands haste as we prioritize His business over every other pursuit, pastime or pleasure. This desire cannot stay silent as it speaks of an honoring of Him, as we submit our will for His, our kingdom for His, our business for His.

This business may take us to distant lands or far off seas. We may face untold dangers or perils of the deep. It may lead us away from father, mother, brother, and yet, we must be about our Father’s business.

Does this describe the desire of our lives? A desire to be so exclusive, so focused, so abandoned of all else?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book “The Cost of Discipleship,” written 1937, explores just such a desire, using the story of Abraham as a canvas:

This breach with all our immediate relationships is inescapable…Abraham became a stranger and a sojourner in order to gain the promised land. This was his first call. Later on he was called by God to offer his own son Isaac as a sacrifice. Christ had come between the father of faith and the child of promise. This time the direct relationship not only of flesh and blood, but also of the spirit, must be broken.

Abraham must learn that the promise does not depend on Isaac, but on God alone. No one else hears this call of God, not even the servants who accompanied Abraham to Mount Moriah. Once again, as when he left his father’s house, Abraham becomes an individual, a lonely and solitary figure. He accepts the call as it comes; he will not shirk it or ‘spiritualize’ it. He takes God at His word and is ready to obey.

And if we have the desire that says, “I’m ready to obey,”, do we yet have the knowledge required? Do we know Him, truly? Not words on a page, and more than trivia or facts, instead we speak of the intimate knowledge that comes as if deep calling out to deep.

To be about His business, we must know not only the matter of the business but also we must know Him in such a way that we hear His voice and are able to discern His will.

This type of knowledge cannot be purchased nor bartered for. It will not be found on a store shelf and no degree or diploma can award it as well-earned and deserved. It is not earned, rather it is given, bestowed, and yet while a gift, still it must be sought after, for, “It is the glory of kings to search out a matter. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2)

This knowledge, when granted, changes us permanently.

“Then Jacob asked saying, ‘Tell me Your name.’ So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’

Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.” (Genesis 32:29-31)

Jacob wrestled with a man and refused to let go until he knew the name of this One. In coming to know the name of God, he was both blessed and permanently changed. Jacob left that place, going about his Father’s business, limping from that day forward.

Let us pick back up with Bonhoeffer’s account:

No one else knows what has happened. Abraham comes down from the mountain with Isaac just as he went up, but the whole situation has changed. Christ has stepped between father and son. Abraham had left all and followed Christ, and as he follows him he is allowed to go back and live in the world as he had done before. Outwardly the picture is unchanged, but the old is passed away, and behold all things are new. Everything has had to pass through Christ.

What is holding us back from being able to say honestly, humbly, and confidently, “I must leave all and be about my Father’s business?”

Is it knowledge?

Then do as Jacob and get alone with God, refusing to let up in our petition until He blesses us.

Perhaps Jacob’s example is not enough? Then let us consider the persistent widow, “Then He (Jesus) spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and never lose heart, saying, ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man…’yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’

And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” (Luke 18:1-2, 4-5, 7)

Get alone with God and cry out day and night. Though He may tarry, He will answer, even if only because of our continual asking.

Is it desire?

Perhaps we love something or someone in this world more than our love for Christ? A breach is needed! Do as Abraham, hear the voice of God speaking that which needs sacrificing and take it immediately to the altar. Do not delay. Do not deliberate. Do not seek another way out. Bring it to the altar, tie it down and prepare to plunge the knife. Perhaps He will stay our hand, perhaps He will not. Either way, He will be enough, regardless of our loss.

Bonhoeffer finishes his story of the Patriarch:

Against every direct claim upon him, whether natural, ethical or religious, he [Abraham] will be obedient to the Word of God. By his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, he shows that he is prepared to come out into the open with the breach which he had already made secretly, and to do so for the sake of the Mediator. And at that very moment all that he had surrendered was given back to him. He receives back his son.

God shows him a better sacrifice which will take the place of Isaac.

The tables are completely turned, Abraham receives Isaac back, but henceforth he will have his son in quite a new way—through the Mediator and for the Mediators’s sake. Since he had shown himself ready to obey God literally, he is now allowed to possess Isaac though he had him not—to possess him through Jesus Christ.

It is not for us to choose which way we shall follow. That depends on the will of Christ. But this at least is certain: in one way or the other we shall have to leave the immediacy of the world…[in order to say as Peter], ‘Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.’

His will is better. His kingdom superior. It will come to pass. We must be about our Father’s business, whatever the cost.

Will you join me?

In love,

Derek