When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (Luke 2:22)
A dry-erase board in our kitchen lists daily chores for each of our children. My wife and I expect our children to complete these chores each day before having certain privileges. When a task is not finished and a reminder is required, our children sometimes respond by saying, “I know, I know.” The gap between knowing what needs to be done and actually doing what needs to be done becomes apparent. Knowing about the chore is not the challenge—it is written in colored marker right on the board! The challenge is taking the time and effort to follow through and actually do the chore.
Mary and Joseph knew what was required by the law. They knew the law instructed them to present their firstborn male child at the temple to signify he was holy to God. They also knew that Jesus was special and could have decided they did not need to do what the law required. Instead, they did what was expected of all Jewish families. They faithfully presented Jesus at the temple just as God had asked them to do.
God wants us to know his story, Bible verses, and the commands Jesus gave us, but knowing without doing is not what God desires. He wants us to apply what we know. Obedience to God is always worth the time and effort of putting words into action.
Follow God obediently, putting what you know into action.
Mike Osler is completing his MDiv at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. Mike and his wife, Kim, live in Iowa with their four young boys.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
