Ponder These Things

"And all those who heard it marveled at those

things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered

them in her heart."

     Luke 2:19 (NKJV)

Christmas comes and goes in a rush, but the Bible invites us to ponder the truths of the season in our hearts long after Christmas is over for the year.  Mary heard what the angel Gabriel said about her coming Son, what the shepherds proclaimed they had heard and seen about the baby Jesus, and also the prophecy of Simeon and Anna's testimony about the Messiah, and she "kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." 

Although Scripture doesn't tell us exactly how much Mary comprehended then, she must have realized the importance of this Child and His role in God's plan. Surely, these things stayed with her as she watched Jesus grow and then die in accordance with that plan. And no doubt, these things had a big impact on her faith and walk with God.

What take-aways from Christmas are you pondering in your heart?  God's amazing love, the humility and obedience of Jesus, His self-sacrifice by coming to earth for us?  The joy and peace we know because Jesus is our Immanuel, God with us?  Not only should we treasure these precious truths, but they should cause us to walk with Him in greater devotion because Jesus is our example.

Thursday Devotional - Christmas Peace?

Did you have a peaceful Christmas yesterday? I don’t think the first Christmas was peaceful. Ours started out peaceful, but it didn’t end peaceful.

James had an asthma attack that started just before bed and lasted many hours before he could finally calm down and sleep. Joe and I tried numerous things (inhaler/nebulizer/motrin/wedge under his mattress/chest massages/vapor rub/hot water to drink/standing on the front porch in the cold, etc.). Some of it would seem to help, but a few minutes later he was gasping for breath and coughing non-stop all over again. I kept praying for wisdom. Many times I told God I didn’t know what else to do and asked if we needed to go to the ER. I felt we had tried all we knew, but then He’d give one of us something else to try. Finally, after 3 different wedges, a final glass of hot water, and scratching his head, James started breathing well enough to fall asleep and stay asleep for several hours.

It was hard not to be afraid, but I knew God was with us and would give us direction. It made me think of the following promises of Jesus:

John 14:27    ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33    ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Whether you had what you would define as a peaceful Christmas, we can all claim the peace God offers. Most importantly, He offers eternal spiritual peace. He also offers emotional peace, when we look to Him for direction. He is Immanuel – God with us!

Alice

The Life of Christ

Luke 23:44-49

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”  When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.  But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

As we approach Christmas day, we think about the birth of Christ.  It is a joyous time of year.  However, as we read through the book of Luke, as I have been using this month, we are now at the point of Christs death.  While the birth of Christ is a joyous time, it really has little meaning if the rest of the life of Christ is not included. It was Christ’s death and resurrection that really gives us the hope for our future.

During this time that we are celebrating the first breath of the baby Jesus, I want to encourage us to not forget the last breath of Christ as well. 

Father God, thank you for sending your son to earth to save us.  It is during this time that we celebrate the birth of this precious baby, who was sent to us through a miraculous birth.  Not one of us wants to think about the death of someone when they are born, however it is not through the birth of Christ alone that we have hope.  It is through the life of Christ, his death and his resurrection that gives us the forgiveness and the hope for our own future.  Help us today to remember the entire life of Christ this week.