Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 4
Sunday


TAKE TIME
TO PONDER

READ:
Luke 2:8-19
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Mary kept all these
things and pondered
them in her heart.
__Luke 2:19
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Parents love to remember the developmental milestones of their children. They will record in a baby book when their little ones first roll over, then crawl, and take their first steps. Often they will take photographs and save baby clothing to bring back the memories of those precious experiences.

According to Luke 2:19, Mary, the mother of Jesus, kept a baby book of sorts__in her heart. She treasured the promises that had been given about her Son and "pondered them." The Greek word for "ponder" means "placing together for comparison." Mary had heard of great things concerning her Son from angels and shepherds (1:32; 2:17-18). As His life unfolded, she would compare those promises with how her Son acted to fulfill them.

Our faith will be strengthened and we will be encouraged when we meditate on what the Scriptures say about God and compare it with the way He works in our own lives (John 14-21). He is a God who answers prayer (1 John 5:14-15), comforts us in our suffering (2 Cor. 1:3-4), and provides for our needs (Phil 4:19).

When we take time to ponder, we will see the faithfulness of our great God. __Dennis Fisher

```````````````Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,```````````````
````````````Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,`````````````
```````````Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow__````````````
````````Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! __Chisholm`````````
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God gives by promise that we may take by faith.

*********************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 2:8-19***********************

8 Now there were in the
same country shepherds
living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their
flock by night. 9 And
behold, an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the
glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were
greatly afraid. 10 Then the
angel said to them, "Do not
be afraid, for behold, I bring
you good tidings of great
joy which will be to all
people. 11 For there is born
to you this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord.

12 And this wil be the sign
to you: You will find a Babe
wrapped in swaddling
cloths, lying in a manager."

13 And sudenly there was
with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host
praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!"

15 ...When the angels had
gone away....the
shepherds said to one
another, "Let us now go to
Bethlehem and see this
thing that has come to pass,
which the Lord has made
known to us." ...

17 Now when they had seen
Him, they made widely
known the saying which
was told them concerning
this Child. 18 And all those
who heard it marveled at
those things which were
told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these
things and pondered them in
her heart.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the Christmas story of Luke 2, the shepherds take part by both
listening and speaking. In verses 10-16, they listen to (and obey) the
angels' message. In verse 17, they speak of all the things they have
seen and heard