February 17, 2018
Luke 2:1-40
"When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong, he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:39-40

Home at last, following what must have seemed a multitude of extraordinary events in the lives of two new parents.  The long journey from Bethlehem to Egypt back to Nazareth is over; the wonder of the Holy birth, a time-etched memory.  Now the real work begins:  raising their new son as best they can in the admonition of the Lord.
Luke depicts Mary and Joseph as good and faithful parents.  We see Jesus as a healthy young child who "grew and became strong".  We can just imagine, however, that Jesus and his parents experience the same challenges that all families have in their relationships and as they teach him life lessons.  God saw that His Son was "filled with wisdom" so that he would be equipped to make good choices, and "His grace was upon him" that all he did and became would be pleasing to his Heavenly Father.
Now, that is what we should be praying for our children:  to grow, to be strong, to be filled with wisdom, and for God's grace to be upon them.  AMEN!

Devotion by Gay Lynn Williams