Devotionals

PAINFUL ASSUMPTION

by Bolaji O.Timothy
07/30/21
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Pains from assumption

Luke 2:40-46

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 

A family who had diligently watched over a treasure assumed concerning this wonderful treasure. That moment of assumptive oversight caused greatly pain for all the member of the family. 

“But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.”Luke 2:44

The cost of this assumption was enormous pains; They were all emotionally and physically stressed. There was an avoidable temporary separation from other siblings. It was not a comfortable moment for the family.

Cross-checking matters, it may be laborious, but it is many times a peaceful venture compared with the troubles caused by carelessness.  Negligence is not a virtue, it will always embarrass negligence and put unnecessary demand on the finance, emotion, marital harmony and welfare. It is always painful. Resources, money, time and physical efforts may be committed to finding or re-writing the wrong. That’s if they are amendable.

In this instance, it was however stressful and painful   they had travelled a day’s journey before discovering that Jesus was missing. There was probably a stand still while they were checking and searching through their kinsfolks and acquaintances, Where is Jesus!. The hours spent in doing this was not specified. They began another day journey back to Jerusalem. This was  without the  certainty of where  this eternal treasure could be found.

These is more than forty eight hours (48Hrs) committed  with a lot of emotional stress involved. Actually, the state of  Mrs. Mary Joseph was not disclosed in the passage. But what if she was pregnant or have  a baby by that time? Where could other children of theirs be kept; With their kinsfolk or acquaintance? Certainly they were not in that journeying back  with Mr and Mrs. Joseph. Luke 2:48  “And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father”. What is the financial implication of that journey back and the separation between their children. This was an emergency, they did not plan for it.

The process of finding Jesus back and bringing him certainly cost them A week or more, aside other resources deployed to achieve this.  He was found after three days of searching in Jerusalem.

Then began the journey back home to Nazareth. May be additional two days. A lot of unplanned resources were put into the getting back what was lost through assumption; Just ignoring a moment to cross check could wreck many havocs which may be of eternal implication.  Some may not be able to survive while it may take fortunes and years to recover. :  month, a year, ten years or a life time to secure the  lost. A lot of lives, hope,  and future have been serious tampered with by  assumption.

The assumption of joseph and Mary may  caused  serious quarrel and marital misunderstanding in many homes.  Each person passing the bulks.

Few people with some traits or attitude have propensity to assumptions in their lives and duties. People who are lazy, impatience, love to flow with crowd, overconfident, proud or ignorant have tendency to live  few or major parts of their lives on assumption. Their day to day are credited to many assumptions. They could be dangerous set of human being to deal and live with.

It is  dangerous  when a man who feels good and happy to assume the wife and children are happy if there is no deliberate effort to create   and replicate such happiness in the home. It is dangerous when a parent believe their  emotional and spiritually secured, and think same is experienced by the children whereas activities in the home constantly erode the emotional  and spiritual security that the children have. It is dangerous when teachers handles their students with assumption. They end up in destroying the potential of these students. It is dangerous when leaders discharge their responsibilities with assumption.

One may wonder why God often request everyone who intend to access God’s promise get this achieved by diligent obedience.

A call  to Unretiring diligence

In everything that we do, there is the need to give unretiring diligence. Irrespective of the magnitude of giftings, grace and anointing, experience, achievement, successes, victories, fame and powers, God require of us in all these to always give compulsory concerned with constructive and complete attention.

It does not matter how we gave careful  attention yesterday, God still want us to give careful attention today, tomorrow and always.