Daily Devotional

When we look deep below the ocean's surface, some of the stuff we see can be pretty wild. For example, did you know that the Sarcastic Fringehead, Sea Pig, Royal Gramma, and Bloodybelly Comb Jelly are all the real names of some of the ocean’s most interesting creatures? And let me just say, if you think their names are something, you ought to see what some of these creatures look like. You might think they came from a different planet. Contemplating the depths of the ocean can feel similar to looking beneath the surface of our own lives. Finding out what's deep below the surface can be scary, and we need a reliable guide to help us navigate the depths.
 
Luke 2 opens with the story of Jesus' birth, and then suddenly, we transition to Him being 12 years old.  Mary and Joseph were able to watch Him physically, emotionally, and spiritually grow for years, knowing all the while that He was prophesied to be something special. What's interesting is there is growth that must have happened in the life of our Savior that we don't see. From birth to 12 and from 12 to around 30, much of Jesus’ life we don't get insight into. And much like Jesus, our life also has growth that takes place that we either miss or cannot see. Truth is as we grow closer to God, we gain insight and wisdom for what God has planned for us. He shows us the different ways that we might play a part in what He is doing in the world, and we even begin to desire the things that He desires.
 
National Geographic says that the ocean covers 70% of the planet's surface. And it's also said that more than 80% of the sea has not been explored or mapped out by humans. Now, it goes without saying that there is no way that one person could explore the depths of the ocean by themselves, right? It would take a community of explorers to understand what's happening beneath the surface. The same is true of us in God's plan for our role in community. We are not called to live in isolation, and we're not called to work alone. God works through our communities, friends, and families and as a body, we help each other understand who we are in God and what His role is for our lives. May we as a community daily follow Christ's lead in understanding that God helps us discover who we are becoming.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.