Every year at the time of Passover, Jesus would travel to Jerusalem with his family to attend the Festival of the Passover. At the age of 12, Jesus went with his mother and father probably anxious to learn and be able to sit in the temple of his father at Jerusalem. After the festival was over his parents left to return home, but they could not find Jesus anywhere. They searched for him for three days, only to find him in the temple courts. Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking questions. The people were in awe of Jesus’ knowledgeable answers he was giving for his age. It says it in Luke 2:48-49.

“When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Let’s settle into this question for a moment: What reputation are we setting out to the people around us?

Jesus was found in his Father’s house. Whenever we pray, worship or seek Him in anyway, we find ourselves in the Father’s house. It was not the temple, it is not the brick and mortar church, it is the presence that creates the home. We carry Him with us everywhere we go, His joy is sealed in our hearts, so now it’s our job to access that. It’s our job to bring His house to our schools, workplaces, or wherever God is calling you.

We can learn a lot from Jesus, in this particular story I was impacted by this simple statement in verse 49: “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Even as a child, Jesus wanted people to know where to find him. He set his reputation out first, “Find me at my Father’s house.” So I’ll ask again, what reputation are we setting out to the people around us? Whether you believe it or not, you are a leader. As Christians we are constantly being called to lead a broken world back to him.

Being Christian won’t always be looked at as a positive thing by those around you. People are going to be watching what you say and how you act to try and prove you’re just another “hypocritical Christian.” Rise above the stereotype, keep yourself accountable. Let your reputation be that you can be found in your Father’s house, and bring that feeling of home everywhere you go. Home is where the heart is, but is your heart in His house?