“And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19).
So many miraculous things were happening all around Mary when her son was born. Outside, the glory of the Lord lit up the sky. A great company of angels (perhaps thousands) could be visibly seen by the shepherds in the countryside praising God as Jesus was born. An angel of the Lord announced to the shepherds that a Savior had been born who was Christ the Lord. They rushed to see Him and were astounded that these prophetic words of God were true. Immediately, they spread the word to others who were equally astonished.
But Mary quietly pondered these things in her heart. With deep joy and satisfaction, she quietly worshipped God. We might think her quiet response was due to her personality. Or perhaps because she had just given birth she was in no condition to run around proclaiming the birth of her newborn son, the King of kings. Or perhaps it was because Mary truly had faith in God’s Word. God had already told her from Jesus’ conception that He was the Savior. Shortly after God told her that she was to become pregnant, she went to visit Elizabeth and tell her the good news. Elizabeth was pregnant with the child who was prophesied to be the forerunner of Christ. It was at this time that Mary wrote a worship song to God expressing the miraculous occurrence of the Son of God to be placed in her womb. Months later, upon having the baby, she was still in awe, but in a quiet, meditative, and worshipful way.
This reminds me that there is a time to shout and a time to quietly rejoice, a time to tell others and a time to ponder things within our own hearts, a time to preach and a time to meditate. The Lord wants us to boldly tell others of His unexpected and miraculous ways of transforming our lives. However, at times He wants us to quietly treasure these things in our hearts and share our thoughts only with Him. He is not only a God who calls us to minister to others but also to have a private, intimate worship life with Him. As I write this, I am only a few days from celebrating Christmas. I am consciously making an effort to celebrate this joyous event with family and friends and boldly telling others about the meaning of this wonderful holiday. I am mindful, however, to take time to “treasure up all these things and ponder them in my heart,” as I spend time each morning meditating on His Word about this miraculous moment in history. May God meet you in a special way as you take quiet time to ponder His miraculous ways. And no matter what is going on in your life, remember to expect the unexpected!
Today’s Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-20; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Excerpt from Mission Impossible: A Journey of Faith with the Characters of Hebrews 11
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