What Do You Treasure?
December 26, 2022
What Do You Treasure?
By Brooke Holt
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
Can you imagine Mary holding her baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, knowing that this child resting in her arms is the promised Messiah? As you imagine Mary holding Jesus, think about the beauty of a newborn baby – the soft skin, the sweet face, the tender cries, and the way it loves to be held close. Beholding a newborn baby is a miracle, and Christmas is the celebration of not just the miracle of a newborn child but also of the birth of God incarnate. Mary marveled as she gazed upon her newborn son and would likely marvel each day for the rest of her life.
How would Mary respond to such miracles? Though Mary was visited by an angel and told of the divine impartation of God’s Son, I am sure that each day still brought awe and wonder to her. The text tells us that Mary “treasured up" and "pondered” all these things. Mary savored the moments; she relished them. “Pondering them in her heart” means that Mary sought to understand with her mind, her spirit, and her heart. She never wanted to miss the moment or forget what God had done and who it was that lay in her arms.
As you celebrate this Christmas season, the Lord invites you to take time to treasure what he has done for you through the gift of his Son and to ponder this miracle. Like Mary, you can marvel at what God has done for you! Though you do not gaze upon the Christ child as Mary did, you do have the gifts of the Holy Scripture as well as the indwelling Spirit of God. These Scriptures are worthy of our time and attention as they are designed to go from our heads to our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hearing, savoring, relishing the Word of God is what changes you. Do you spend the time to read the Scriptures and to meditate on God’s Word? Do you allow God’s word to move from your head to your heart so that it may convict you and show you the way to live? Today, will you choose to be like Mary and to treasure the most precious gift given in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
Reflection:
Will you carve out time in this crazy week to ponder God’s word, to cherish the gift of his Son, and to allow the Holy Spirit to take God’s word from your head to your heart? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resource:
Our honest prayer before God is evidence that we understand the ways He loves, cherishes, sees, and hears us. Through prayer, we can acknowledge with Hagar, “You are the living One who sees me” (Genesis 16:14). When we pray, we are affirming the same. Why do we often hide from this privilege? Why do we avoid God, the One who sees us as we are and stands ready to provide and answer us in his holy, timely way? In this 8-week study on the prayers of Job, Ruth, Hannah, and David, grow your prayer life by facing your honest need and bringing your whole self before God. Acknowledging God as the One who guides your path can change your heart. It can take you past fear and into faith, strength, and hope. Learn more about Honest Prayer.
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