To Treasure and To Ponder

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

The shepherds watched over their flocks that night.  Then the heavens lit up with the glory of God, and the shepherds quaked with fear.

And an angel announced, “Do not be afraid.  I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you; you will find him wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.”

After the heavenly vision ceased, the shepherds looked for the baby and found Jesus wrapped in cloth and in a manger as the angel said.  When Mary learned about the angel’s visitation and of all that he said, she treasured and pondered these things in her heart.

When God speaks to us, we too can ponder the words and impressions that we sense from the Holy Spirit and from the word of God.

A good soup takes time to make.  The cook must allow the ingredients to boil and simmer long enough for the flavor to permeate the soup.  Then we can taste its richness. 

When we ponder over something the Lord has spoken over us, our revelation of the Lord, his word, and His plan for our lives grows in depth and richness.

When Mary heard the shepherds tell her of the angel’s declaration that Jesus was Savior, Messiah and Lord, it must have bolstered her faith.  It also helped her to understand her role as the mother of this miraculous child.

Let’s treasure the times when our Lord reveals himself to us.  Let’s ponder over the words He speaks and then let’s let his word propel us to action.

Just One

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-3 (NKJV)

I am just one of them.  One of the laborers that harvest in His field.  I am not someone special.  He is special.  Jesus deserves all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise. 

If you’ve answered the call to go and win souls and to make disciples, then you are also a laborer for Him.

This is not a position that demands the praise of men.  We are not of great significance on our own.  In fact the scripture says that apart from Jesus, we are nothing.
 

You and I are vessels.  God wants to use us to bring His glory to others.  On that day when Jesus rode the donkey and all the people praised him, was the donkey a mighty steed worthy of great praise? No, Jesus used him but our Lord rightly received the adoration.

The truth is that we are all highly flawed.  We, as His vessels, are imperfect.  Paul said we could become vessels of honor.  Let’s strive to do that in the Holy Spirit’s power.  Let’s walk in purity and faithfulness to our God.  But even if we are vessels of honor, we are still unworthy of the task of winning souls for Him.

The good news is that as born again believers we have been made righteous through the spilling of the Savior’s blood.  Yes, we are righteous and we have been made complete in Him.  But let’s never forget that our own righteousness is likened to filthy rags. 

I don’t care if you call yourself an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, a teacher, a doctor, a musician or an author, the truth is you are one of the laborers in our Lord’s kingdom.  It doesn’t matter how many medals you’ve won or how many degrees you print after your name, without Jesus we are worthless.

Let’s not become filled with our own importance.  After all is said and done, we are only His laborers, but in the Father’s eyes, that is truly a beautiful thing.