Treasured Things

Reading: Luke 2; Psalm 40 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often… 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:19, 51 NLT) Some pretty amazing things happened in the early days of Jesus’ life – in fact, even before he was born! Visits by angels and shepherds and wise men from another country. Encounters in the Temple, first with Simeon and Anna when he was a baby, then with the religious teachers when he was twelve years old. Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. The wise men went back to their homes, the shepherds to their flocks, Joseph kept busy in the carpentry shop, and Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. It is so easy to forget divine encounters, “mountain-top” experiences, words from the Lord, commitments I’ve made, purposes I have followed! In the ordinariness of daily life, these things seem to fade into the background and are easily forgotten. Not “forgotten” in the sense of not remembering that they happened, but “forgotten” in the sense that I let them fade, and no longer factor them into my daily life process. I need to be reminded of these important experiences and mile-posts. I’m not sure I take enough time to quietly treasure these things in my heart. I read the Bible every day, sometimes write a personal journal entry, and always write a devotional to share. Sometimes those personal journal entries represent something that God has spoken very deeply into my heart. Then I go on to the next task, appointment, or conversation, and the sense of “hearing” fades. I’m not sure I’m always appropriately “treasuring” the things God says, or the experiences I have with my friends and my fellow Christ followers.
• Is there a practical way that I can quietly “treasure these things in my heart and think about them often?”
• Friends, what are some of your “Treasures”? What helps you quietly treasure these things in your heart? Prayer: Father, I know you’re speaking to me about this. It’s coming up in my Bible readings and my thoughts and my conversations. I think I’m ready to learn more about “quietly treasuring things in my heart and thinking about them often.” As you continue to lead, I’ll do my best to follow. Amen.