July 27 Treasured Thoughts

Luke 2:51-52 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
 
HOW did Mary respond to Jesus’ presence in the temple? What did she think about his statement, “Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?” He has displayed unusual wisdom before the teachers and others in the temple. The boy Jesus was beginning to reveal God’s wisdom to the world. What is a mother to think of such a son?
    We find as we did at Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:19 that Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.” At that time and here at the temple 12 years later, Mary came face-to-face with the reality that Jesus was no ordinary person. She had been told he is the long-awaited Messiah. Luke 1:33 “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Simeon’s prophecies came to her at Jesus’ circumcision: Luke 2:34-35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against.” She had also been told Jesus’ life would also bring extreme grief to her soul. Luke 2:35b “And a sword will pierce your own soul too."  Now here at the Passover Feast, Jesus has proclaimed the Jews’ center point of worship in Jerusalem as “my Father’s house.” 
    In all these pronouncements, God revealed himself to Mary. She is hearing God’s words of truth, purpose and prophecy for Jesus and her own life. “Pondering these things”, in other words, stopping to seriously consider what she had heard, Mary likely wondered, “How do I fit into this? What will God have me do? How will I be able to understand all I have heard and seen? Can I fully understand who Jesus is? What is going to happen? Can I fully trust God’s hand is on him, on me and on his people?”
    These are questions for all of us, aren’t they? As we hear God’s words of truth, purpose and prophecy each day, we must stop to treasure them in our mind, heart and soul. Through his Bible, the Almighty God speaks, revealing himself to us. Then come the moments of revelation when we meet him face-to-face. You know those moments, don’t you? They happen when we must truly lay down all we know and move ahead in total trust, confessing, “I follow Jesus.”
    Sadly, too many of us refuse to take that step. If, though, we say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth.” we cannot stay put when Jesus says, “Come.” Indeed, we must hold our Creator’s revelation to us as his priceless, eternal favor over our lives.
    Jesus grew in wisdom, obeying his parents, honoring God’s commands and preparing for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Mary was growing in wisdom, also, to prepare for her ultimate purpose, which was to testify to these things you now read. We must grow in wisdom, too. God’s purpose for us all is to testify of his wisdom and favor upon us.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for revealing who you are to me. I pray I ponder and treasure your words to faithfully follow you. In Jesus’ name, amen.