Read Luke 2:8–21
‘But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ (v19)
If we treasure something, we store it up for future use. The UK Treasury maintains the economy, promoting conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad. The kingdom of God offers a treasury of wisdom, which is the currency, and ensures its effective growth.
Mary reached full-term, and her child awakened the world to a new age. This was one in which God chose to make Himself available in friendship to every mortal.
Shepherds, whose witness society would not accept in court because it was regarded as untrustworthy, were entrusted by God with the first announcement of Jesus’ birth. God’s economy invites and welcomes the margins into the centre (Luke 4: 18–20).
No matter our history or background, God sees the divine spark within each one of us. God refuses to judge us on our past, but on the basis of our response to His invitation of salvation. And, like the shepherds, an encounter with God turns our curses to praise and drives us to our knees in grateful worship.
Whilst the shepherds testified to all they had seen and experienced, Mary quietly stored all she observed in the treasury of her heart. It would become the resource she would need throughout a life of loving and serving her Son, Jesus.
This Christmas may be the time to open an account in the bank of Jesus, where the currency is the wisdom needed to live a life of purpose whilst experiencing hope for your future. Or it might afford the opportunity for some healthy auditing of your current savings.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Psa. 42; Micah 7:1–7; Matt. 7:24–29; 2 Cor. 1:3–11. Psa. 90:10–17; 1 Cor. 3:10–23; James 1:5–18.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Use Christmas to review the state of your heart’s savings. Is there a rich deposit of wisdom, or is the vault empty? As the shepherds did, make your way to Jesus and reinstate your account.
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, like Mary may I take time to store up wisdom in my heart and draw from this in the challenges I face in my daily life. Amen.’
Photo by ginosphotos1 by depositphotos
