December 17, 2022
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (NIV)
The Christmas story from the gospel of Luke is filled with supernatural signs and wonders as God prepares the way for the coming of His son, the long-awaited Messiah, Christ the Lord. In this verse, Mary reflects on the shepherds’ testimonies of angelic encounters and the good news they proclaimed. It’s interesting that of all the miraculous events that Mary experienced leading up to this moment, she treasured the shepherds’ words.
In fact, Mary “kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (NLT). This was a significant life event for Mary. She must have recounted it so often that Luke felt it was worth documenting in his record of Jesus’ birth. I imagine that Mary looked upon her newborn child with awe and wonder, while the shepherds rejoiced after recognizing the Saviour of the world, lying in the manger, wrapped in swaddling cloth, just as the angels foretold. If Mary had any doubts or fears about God’s plans after delivering her baby, the shepherds’ testimonies would have confirmed Jesus’ divine purpose and reaffirmed Mary’s trust in God.
Our God is unfailingly faithful. Mary’s response to the shepherds’ astonishing accounts highlights the importance of clinging to the truth that God is trustworthy, especially when life is difficult, challenging, or uncertain. We know how Jesus’ earthly life unfolds. Surely, Mary faced personal hardship and heartache watching her child fulfil his destiny. She may have drawn strength and comfort years later as she recalled her interactions with the shepherds; the memory serving as a reminder that God always has a plan, and He is faithful forever.
We too can store moments of God’s favour, blessing, and goodness in our hearts to refer back to when we need a reminder that He is God of the impossible - steadfast and true.
Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas season filled with ‘God moments’ to be treasured for years to come.
Written by Amy Gayman