From Gary.... My Must's...

Coffee, oh, how I love coffee!!!  Truth is, I have always loved it- in my youth, to EXCESS.  In my 20's it was very common for me to drink 15-20 cups a day (with a minimum of three teaspoons of sugar for each cup, I might add).  Over the years, I have cut my consumption down to two cups a day, with a measured amount of creamer and "Nectaresse" (thank you Dr. Oz!).  Today, as I write this, I am enjoying my third cup (and feeling a little guilty about it).  But, today, I absolutely, positively, had to have that third cup!!!  It wasn't that I wanted it- it was a MUST HAVE!!!  And how many things can you put in THAT CATEGORY???!!! Humm, I wonder.... did Jesus have any things that were imperatives to him; things he must have, must do, must be???  Here is but one I thought of...

Luke, Chapter 2

 39  When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.  40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.  41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 

  42  When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,  44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.  45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” 

  49  He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”   50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.  51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus needed to be in the temple, listening, learning and growing.  With zeal like that, do you suppose he missed a single synagogue service???  And yet on Sunday morning, many people elect NOT to go to Bible class, and the same can be said for the evening assembly.  We can all learn how important it is to BE THERE from Jesus himself.  A long time ago, while I was in my last year of preaching school, our preacher (Max T. Neel) asked me what I was going to do that upcoming weekend.  I told him that I had to preach at (I don't remember which congregation) a local church.  His response was swift and to-the-point- "You don't have to, you have the honor of"!!!!  Somehow, those words reverberate in my mind,  each time I decide to leave for church services.  As good as coffee is, it will never get me to heaven; but learning what God has to say.... well, you get the idea.  And the good news is - there is no caffeine or sugar involved at all!!!!  Well, that's not the whole "good news", but you get the idea!!!