In reading the Scriptures how good if, in some measure, we realize that these are wonderful Words of Life! What depth of meaning and fulness of blessing for the earnest reader! In this spirit let us turn to Luke 2:41-52. It appears that the parents of Jesus "every year," according to "custom," went up to "the feast of the Passover" at Jerusalem, "and when they had fulfilled the days" they returned.

These feasts had become mere formal customs, and- as we learn from other Scriptures-were no longer called "feasts of the Lord" but "feasts of the Jews." All the heart had gone out of them, so to speak, and only the shell of formality remained. So it would seem that these parents, with kinsfolk and acquaintance, just went through the "custom," and when the days were over they returned homeward.

We know how easy it is in days of declension to slip into mere form. We come up to our feasts, take the same route, see the same old friends, maybe we sit in the same seats and sing the familiar hymns, fulfilling the days, taking everything for granted in an orthodox way, when indeed for us, the heart may have gone out of it all.

What a difference when there is faith! The same things can be done over and over again, yet without the slightest formality. Faith takes us to meet Jesus and His precious people, also to keep the feast. It is the living link to sustain the heart, making sweet the most familiar service. How good if-to illustrate from the earlier part of our chapter-we come by the Spirit into the Assembly, impressed by the sense of His presence, as it were to hold up Christ, to bless God for the Light of the Gentiles,
the Glory of Israel, and the blessed Head of the Church!

In the case before us, having completed "custom," they departed for home, supposing that Jesus was with them. But He who knew just what that feast set forth for God and Himself, "tarried behind in Jerusalem." He was to be the Lamb on another occasion! How everything would have significance for Him in that city!

Blessed Lord!

"We love Thee for the glorious worth
Which in Thyself we see."

What unction would His presence give to all! Yet they only supposed Him to be in the company and went a day's journey without Him. Oh, the emptiness and barrenness of that journey! How pregnant with meaning are the words "a day's journey" without Him!

"How tedious and tasteless the hours,
When Jesus no longer I see."

"They sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance." How we would limit Him to our little circles of interest! But He is to be found in God's interests! What largeness of heart we should have if we entered into this.

Let us notice how they reached Him. They had traveled but one day without Him, yet we are told, "And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the Temple." Are we not reminded in these three days, so often spoken of in Scripture, of that distance of death?

It was a time of real sorrow to them. "Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." Very many of us know something of this sorrow which has taken us down to "Gilgal," the place of death to the flesh, where we have found Him in His love just the same.

"Why is it that ye have sought Me? Did ye not know that I ought to be (occupied) in my Father's business?" (N. Trans.). If we leave the reality and content ourselves with mere form, occupied in our own circles of interests, He will remind us He cannot do so. He must be about His Father's business.

How ready we are to blame Him! "Why hast Thou thus dealt with us?" Should we not be more careful not to take journeys without Him? How patient He is with us! How sweet to find His love always the same. All our days spent with Him would yield a rich harvest. "The tree of life.. .yielded her fruit every month" (Rev. 22:2). Our days pass into months and on to a year. Think of a spiritual year-a year's journey with Jesus-with all its spiritual wealth!

Oh, to be filled with Him! Near to our Beloved, near to His people, built up in this one bundle of life and love, occupied in the Father's business!

"Then, oh, to us this grace afford,
That far from Thee we ne'er may move:
Our guard-the presence of the Lord:
Our joy-Thy perfect, present love."

E. C. Taylor