What Jesus Did! 'He Grew Up a Good Kid' — Luke 2:51-52

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

[After Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem to find Jesus,] he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

— Luke 2:51-52 NLT

Key Thought

Luke lets us know that Jesus was a good kid. As he grew up, he was obedient, he grew smarter, he made God proud, and he was liked by others. Like any loving parent, Mary stored up the memories of his childhood in her heart. There were no shortcuts for the Messiah. God's Son had to grow up and live a life of character in a family just like any other child. His wisdom came as he grew. Yet all the while, God's mission for him lay ahead. Think of it: If we cannot fathom God's being fully in human flesh, what must it have been like for Mary and Joseph? Yet this divine mystery holds our healing, God's grace, and the Savior's glory. Now God calls us to grow, in all ways, to be like his Son.

Today's Prayer

Father, you know that I sometimes get tired and distracted in my spiritual development. Forgive my past times of spiritual laziness, and stir in me a holy passion to conform to your will and to grow ever more fully into the person you want me to be. In the name of Jesus and by the power of his transforming Spirit, may this be so. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Philippians 2:5-11
  • 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
  • Galatians 4:19

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 2:51-52 NLT — Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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