Treasure The Word

My favorite verse about the birth of Yeshua, Jesus, is Luke 2:19. Still, for context, we will start at Luke 2:1-20 LSB “Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.”

Throughout the story of Yeshua’s birth and early days, his parents received messages from angels, people, and prophets they did not understand. To process things and walk out the purpose of God, the Scripture says, “Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.” This wasn’t a new phenomenon; the Prophets of Old were constantly prophesying things their natural minds could not understand, and the coming of the Messiah was one of those things.

Mary didn’t try to figure it out; she trusted God, which can be difficult for us to do. But, let’s pause and think about what Joseph and Mary had been told, and let it encourage us. If they can trust words concerning the Messiah, we can, by faith, take hold of promises in the Written Word.

The word for treasuring in Luke 2:19 is number 4933 in the Strong’s Greek Concordance, and it means “to keep closely together, i.e. (by implication) to conserve (from ruin); mentally, to remember (and obey):—keep, observe, preserve.”

She kept the Word, the Light, in her memory to preserve and obey it. She held to the angel’s word, Joseph obeyed the angel’s instructions, and Mary held on to prophecies and messages she didn’t understand – this is faith in God.

This Christmas and Hanukkah season hold to the Light of the Word, which is Yeshua the Messiah. Hold to every promise in Scripture, and walk in obedience even in the midst of fear. Angels said fear not for two reasons: one, seeing an angel will freak you out, and two, you were about to be told something you would feel is impossible.

Psalm 119:105 LSB “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” Another familiar passage is Proverbs 3:5-6 LSB “Trust in Yahweh with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

Let’s take a cue from Mary and treasure the Word of God in our hearts; let’s walk in obedience to the best of our ability and with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let Light shine on your path this holiday season, and receive every blessing God has for you.