MARCH 22, 2019

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,' faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself. 'Business!' cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The deals of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

JOSHUA 7-8

34Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. 35There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.(8:34-35)

LUKE 2:25-52

 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^f 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

JOURNAL 

I love this quote from A Christmas Carol . It speaks volumes as to our purpose and ultimately why we are here. It's not about how much we can accumulate or gain or lose or have. It is about making the most of the time we are given...which means glorifying God and building his kingdom...which ultimately means the hearts and minds of mankind. 

This "mission" has many times had a negative connotation for me. I visualize door to door closed-minded people who are intent on "converting" anyone and everyone as some kind of merit based tally system. The reality is that is so far from the truth of Jesus and his kingdom. I truly believe that purpose of focusing on today, this moment, this hour is that we are to be aware of the needs and hurts that are around us. "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".

It also means that we are to make the most of all that he has given us, physically, mentally, emotionally and materially. This is the best way to show our gratitude as well as working to help those that come into our sphere of influence. In doing so we build the kingdom...

 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^f 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

LUKE 10:46-52