READ Luke 2
Luke gives his account of Jesus’ birth and early life.

INSIGHT
To Jesus, nothing is more important than doing His Father’s will, even at the age of 12. When His parents miss Him on the trip home from the Passover, they return and find Him in the temple. “Did you not know that I had to be about My Father’s business?” He asked. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,” He later said in John 4:34. Absolute single-mindedness! We are to have the mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus. We are to have absolute single-mindedness about doing the will of the Father. Most of us don’t feel very single-minded. We feel distracted and pulled in the direction of the world, the flesh, and the enticements of the devil. But the goal remains unchanged: absolute single-mindedness in serving the Father. Make that your purpose and your Prayer.

PRAYER
Offer your praise in these words to the God who is worthy of unceasing devotion:
Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!  
You have covered the heavens with your majesty
(Psalm 8:1).

I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous works
(Psalm 9:1).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
“Come, let’s settle this,”  
says the Lord.
Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;  
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool (Isaiah 1:18).

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater love for others
• The work of missions in eastern Europe
• Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the Lord bless you and protect you;  
may the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;  
may the Lord look with favor on you  
and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).