Meditate. Ponder…your spiritual life and maturity. How did your Mother influence your spiritual growth?
All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ... Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Luke 2:18-19, 51
Other translations of these
passages say that Mary treasured or pondered these things in her heart. How
often do you “ponder” something?
LORD, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all
my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the
direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. Psalm 119:57-59
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
taught about storing up treasures in Heaven, rather than on earth. That
teaching is still good for us today whether it is a physical or spiritual
treasure. Obviously we won’t be taking physical treasures to heaven, but
hopefully a heap of spiritual treasures are being stored up there by each of
us.
Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat
them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your
treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not
break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart
will also be. Matthew 6:19-21
What were the desires of Mary’s heart? As a mother she just wanted the best for her son…an education, a career, respect in the community, a knowledge and relationship with God, and maybe even marriage and a family. We only know the facts that are written in the Bible about Jesus’ life…so we can only imagine the details that are not included in the Gospel accounts. Like Mary, we can treasure and ponder these things in our hearts—always striving to know Jesus more. Teach your children, grandchildren and those you mentor to put their hope, trust, faith and love in our Lord Jesus Christ. Store up these things in your heart. Honor your Mom with the treasures of your heart.
Verse of Salvation ~ So think
clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that
will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live
as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to
satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be
holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 1 Peter
1:13-15
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