Luke 2:44-46 KJV, “But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.”
Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels, Vol 2, 1877, Ch 2, p. 32, Steam Press, Battle Creek, MI: “He had not been seen of them since they left Jerusalem. They supposed he was with the company. Inquiry and search were made among their acquaintances and relatives for their much-loved son; but no trace could be found of him. They hastened back to Jerusalem, their hearts heavy with sorrow. For one day of neglect they lost their son, Jesus, from their company, which cost them three days of anxious search, with sorrowful hearts, before they found him. This should be a lesson to those who are following Christ. If they neglect watchfulness and prayer, and become careless, they may, in one day lose Christ; but it may take many days of anxious, sorrowful search to find him again, and to enjoy the peace of mind and consolation of his grace that they lost through vain talking, jesting, joking, and evil speaking, or even neglect of prayer.”
EG White, p.37 continues, “Here is a lesson of instruction to all the followers of Christ. He designed that none of these lessons should be lost, but be written for the benefit of future generations. There is necessity of carefulness of words and actions when Christians are associated together, lest Jesus be forgotten of them, and they pass along careless of the fact that Jesus is not among them.”
Jesus could not be found in the company of those who are:
1. Careless of His presence.
2. Engage in a conversation having no reference to their Redeemer.
3. Lacking meditation, watchfulness, and prayer,
4. Inclined to complain of others, because they realize their loss.
5. Murmuring against God, and do not reproach themselves as being the cause of their own darkness and sufferings of mind.
EG White, p. 40 concludes, “Christ came to call the attention of all men to his Father, teaching them repentance toward God. His work was to reconcile man to God. Although Christ did not come as he was expected, yet he came just as prophecy had marked out that he would come. Those who wished to believe, had sufficient grounds for their faith by referring to prophecy which predicted the coming of the Just One, and described the manner of his coming.”
John 15:4-5 KJV, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
I choose to watch, pray, abide, trust, and obey Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I do not want to miss Him each day.
Sincerely in the Blessed Hope.