12-26-05 Luke 2:19

Luke 2:19 (KJ21)
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19 (NAS)
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:19 (NIVUS)
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19 (NLT)
but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.

When you think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, you think of a sweet, pure young girl, who loved Adonai with all of her heart. And that is certainly true, but you may be surprised to learn that her name means rebellious or contentious. The Most High God chose a vessel that epitomized the state to which mankind had fallen; all were rebellious and disobedient against their Lord. He sent His Son, your Savior, through Mary, who had also been touched by the sin of rebellion. She, like you, also needed His salvation.

Mary knew that the baby that she bore was special, but she may not have fully realized at the time just how important and special he was. When the shepherds came and reported to them what the angels had proclaimed, she took those things to heart. She did not want any of those words to perish or be lost; she, therefore, guarded them and carefully attended to them. She continually brought them to mind and conversed about those words within herself. This kept the vision and hope alive for her and for others, as well.

Like Mary, when you hear a special word from God for your life, you should treasure it. You should keep and guard it. You need to pay special attention to it, for it is your very own possession, something that the Lord gave you to sustain your dream and vision. Let it continually come to mind and meditate on its truth. Chew on it, as cow chews its cud. By doing this, you will receive the most nourishment and strength from Adonai's word to you and your faith will grow strong.