Luke 2.51 Submit Ourselves Joyfully to Limits Placed On Us

And [Jesus] went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them. Luke 2.51.

Once a sister told me that if her husband would permit it, she would leave her three children and go preach the gospel in Tibet. She yearned to have all bonds cut off that she might fly away. This, however, is not the Lord’s attitude. He is God, yet He was obedient to His earthly parents and cared for His brothers and sisters in the flesh. How we too ought to learn to be obedient; we should not entertain any improper ambition for ourselves. We should submit joyfully if God uses family or children to limit us. It is wrong for merchants to think of not trading, for students to hope of not studying, for teachers to expect not to teach, and so forth. We shall find rest if like our Lord we are willing to accept all kinds of limitations without struggle.