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Msg #538 Wednesday, December 24, 2008
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Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Lk 2:19)
What are you doing with the things God is showing you?
Today, on this Christmas Eve, I want to hold before you the example of Mary as one that is worthy of your imitation.
First, know God is seeking to speak to you every day. In the marvelous faithfulness of God, it is His aim to continually put before you His Word, His guidance, His work – daily. God pictures it in Isa 50:4 as daily awaking our ear to hear
“He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. (Is 50:4)
Like the Manna the children of Israel gathered every day, God wants to meet you each day and open to you treasures new and old for your life. The question is…what are you doing with this? Consider Mary’s example.
First – Mary kept all these things
As the shepherds came and told her of the glorious things about who Jesus is and would be….she kept them. The idea of keeping is one who would gather, collect and actively hold onto the things put before her. It is a word that speaks of doing this intentionally.
This is an example that God would want from you – one who would treasure what He is seeking to show you, daily, and keep it. Sadly – many have developed habits of ignoring things God is showing them…or worse…just enjoying them. What I mean is that for many Christians –Bible study, church and Bible reading are means of entertainment. They seek to enjoy such times, but don’t really seek to take application from such times. They leave a church service and evaluate it as good or bad depending on how enjoyable it was….but within days or even hours…they forget the things God was seeking to show them. I call you to Mary’s example of one who held onto the things God as showing her.
Look to yourselves (take care)
that you may not lose (throw away or destroy)
all that we and you have labored for… (2 Jn 8, Amplified)
Secondly – Mary pondered them in her heart
The idea in the word pondering is one who puts things together. We would say one who puts two and two together. It is figuring things out and connecting the dots to what God is showing us. Such a thing – takes an amount of attention and labor…but is so entirely worth it. Mary did – she listened to what the shepherds said….remembered it, kept it…and sought to put it all together. Are you? Are you doing that with things that God is showing you in this season?
My fear for you and for me – is that like in that parable of the soils that we talked about last week – God is speaking to us….and yet in the business of life and this season we are not holding onto the things God is showing us, we are not pondering them…and God’s truth is not bearing the fruit in our lives it should.
Today...CHRISTmas eve….I call you once more to Mary’s good example….
Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Lk 2:19)
Jim
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