There are a lot of cathedrals. There are a lot of expensive houses of worship. But that doesn’t make worship. What makes worship is you and I here. We make worship. That’s you and I offering something to God! That’s being in close fellowship and communion with God. Something is passing between us and God today. I hope I’ve said something here that’s touched your heart and drawn you closer to Him—something that’s made you appreciate Jesus MORE—THRILLED you! You are AMAZED at what this great Book says!! That’s worship! Now, they [some of the congregations of the Lord’s church] have dressed it up with a few different things here and there. They might have some quartets with microphones. They might sing some songs you never heard before. But if they don’t touch the heart, if they’re not in league with the Scripture—if their worship is not done according to Scriptural command and example, then that’s not worship.

So, His mother “treasured” all of these things.

And the last verse. I think it’s a comprehensive verse. I think Luke wants us to read it and say, “Oh, that’s what happened to Him between the age of twelve and thirty,” when He next appears to be baptized by John, [Luke 2:52]. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Proverbs 1:7 sets, I think, the pace of the whole book of Proverbs. Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of WISDOM.” Wisdom is that ability to make the right decision. It’s a practical application to everyday life situations of what God wants us to KNOW! That’s divine, heavenly wisdom. Now, wisdom is not just book learning. It is knowing the truths and the facts of life, and being able to rightly apply them to given situations in our life experiences. That’s wisdom! Wisdom is not education. A person can be uneducated in a lot of different things, but still have wisdom and be wise. So Jesus grew up and He was wise ALL the way.

And then what? He advanced in wisdom and in stature! How big was He? Well, we don’t know. But He had a strong physical body. Was He handsome? Well, we don’t know. Isaiah said there was no physical comeliness that we should be drawn to Him, [Isaiah 53:2]. I think He was average. I think He was average.

And He grew in favor with God first, and men second. Boy, that’s our priority right there. God first. Can we grow in God’s favor? Sure! A child who obeys and lives and does what you want, they grow continually in your favor, even after they’re gone and married. Even after they’re adult! They grow in your favor, which would include your love and your feeling for them. Can we do that with God? Can we get closer to God all the time? Can God love us more and be pleased with us more and more? Well, certainly!!

Well, what about “men”? Well, that is the physical part of our relation. I know a lot of people who are hard to please, and especially if you’re trying to be holy—it makes them nervous. But, you shouldn’t care what the world thinks, because the world and all things in it are passing away, [1 Corinthians 7:31]. And we’re on a route that’s headed for eternity. We want to be pleasing to God above all. That was what Jesus did. Here’s His golden text: “Know ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” And so must you and I. We must be about our Father’s business.