Matthew 3
Mark 1
Luke 3
Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)
The past year, I just celebrated the big 3-0. With every new decade, life speeds up, and the long stretch of the future that seems endless at 18 starts to look shorter and shorter.
I remember when I graduated from high school, I – and all my friends – wrestled endlessly with what to make of our lives. What college? What major? What city? What guy? It seemed like we needed to have it all figured out as soon as we walked across the graduation stage.
But, as anyone who has a little life experience knows, life rarely goes as planned. What we thought would make up our lives at 18 rarely fits with what our life actually looks like at 30, 40, or 50.
It always seemed strange to me that Jesus, with such a short life, waited to begin his ministry until 30. Here are some reasons why that could be.
Traditionally, 30 was the age in Jewish culture of full maturity. It matches up with the pattern of scripture: David was 30 years old when he became king, Joseph was 30 when he entered the service of Pharaoh, the Levitical priests were 30 when they started their service, and so on (Ezekiel, King Saul, and maybe even Paul the Apostle).
Jesus needed to wait to gain the experience and wisdom that comes with age. His authority and testimony depended on it.
When I was younger, it seemed like if I had not decided on a thing by age 22 that opportunity would have passed me by for the rest of my life. Whether that’s a career or a specific ministry, it seems like I’m already too set in my ways to be able to make a change and start doing the thing.
But, I’ve realized that is not how life works. Our lives are long and full of twists and turns. Joseph probably could not have dreamed of the many changes that would take place between his time among his flocks and entering the service of Pharaoh, but God knew and had a plan.
Sometimes, I find myself falling into this trap today. If someone has moved on from the church or a friendship is broken, I often give up. I feel as though this will be how this person, this relationship, or this work will be for the rest of my life.
We need to remember this: As long as we are willing to walk in obedience, it is never too late to start the work. God uses the time waiting and praying as preparation to help to mature our faith and grow our wisdom.
What can we do in the waiting?
We can pray, prepare, and trust – as we look to all those who had to wait to begin their ministry. We can trust that God, ‘who started a good work in us, will see it through to completion.’
Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think Age 30 was so significant in God’s plan? What is special about this age?
- What thing do you feel is ‘too late to change’? It could be a job, a personality trait, a failed relationship, or a church ministry. How could you pray for change for this thing?
- How can we ‘wait well’? What are some practical steps we can take to make the most of our time of preparation?
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