Luke 2:22-24 NLT

[22] Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 

The law of the Lord says, "If a womans first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord."

So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord - "either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Luke 2:22-24 NLT

Kind of crazy to think that Jesus is taken to the temple and His life is dedicated to God by his parents...

Leviticus 12 contains the "law" referred to here, and it requires a lamb as the sacrifice. 

Unless you can't afford one.

Then a couple of small birds are OK.

Joseph and Mary have followed the practices required of them, even tho they had to walk 2.5 hours to Jerusalem, even tho they were poor, even tho they were figuring out this parenting thing, even tho the child they were holding was the Messiah, the lamb of God, and they had no lamb.

In all the unknowns, Mary & Joseph still engaged in the practices of their faith.

In all our unknowns, stick with the practices and habits of faith that remind us of who God is, the Big Story we're in, and our belovedness in it.

And as 2025 winds down, perhaps its a time to put down habits or practices that have not served us well...

#GodsLoveisEnough 

#redemptivestrands 

#hopeishere