Tuck Treasures in Your Heart

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19

On an ordinary night near Bethlehem, shepherds kept watch over their folks in fields. Suddenly an angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone bright all around them. 

The angel announced, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-11)

As the shocking news was sinking in, a great company of angels appeared in the sky praising and glorifying God. The shepherds took in the brilliant scene; bright beams of lights, loud and beautiful singing, eyes wide open darting up and down and all around. 

So many questions must have raced through their minds…What was happening? Was this a dream? Were their eyes playing tricks on them? Or would this night go down in history as the night God announced the birth of the long awaited Messiah to lowly shepherds? For real, had they just received the directions to the Savior of the world? Would they find Him there?

Yes! The shepherds heard the great news first; before kings or rulers, before the rich or the wise. God revealed His rescue mission for all mankind to the “least of these.” They were purposely chosen to witness the glory of God and tell Mary and Joseph about it. 

Finding Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus lying in a manager, they shared all the wonderful sights and sounds God had given them. The Bible tells us, Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).

God gave Mary so many miraculous signs and wonders while she mothered the Messiah. All these treasures were tucked in her heart.

• An angel of the Lord told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would be the mother of God’s one and only son, Jesus. (Luke 1:31)
• Joseph told Mary how an angel came to him in a dream and told him not to divorce her even though he wasn’t the child’s father. He was also told to name the child Jesus. (Matthew 1:20)
• When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the baby in her womb leaped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She proclaimed that Mary’s baby was the Lord. (Luke 1:41-44)
• Laying in a manger, Mary gave birth to a baby while she was still a virgin. 
• When she and Joseph took Jesus into the temple on the eighth day to be circumcise, they were stopped by Simeon, a devout man of God, and Anna a prophetess. Both of them recognized Jesus as the Savior of the world. (Luke 2:21-33)
• Later when Jesus was twelve years old, he amazed all the religious teachers in Jerusalem during Passover with his knowledge and understanding of God. (Luke 2:46) They had no idea that he was the “Word made flesh dwelling among them”. (John 1:14) Again we’re told Mary treasured all these things in her heart.

Mary filled her heart with treasures about Jesus. This Christmas and all year ‘round, we can do the same. What truths and treasures about Jesus are tucked in your heart? 

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