by Rev Steve Nickodemus

A Treasure for the Whole Year

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

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

It was that time of year again. On January 7th, the day after Epiphany (and well after Christmas Day), I took down our church Nativity scene and stored it away in my shop for another year.  Into a dark corner went the ox, lambs, shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus.  The excitement of Christmas was over and put away for another year.

This could have been the way it was on that first Christmas. The angels have come and gone, the shepherds have come and gone, and the little family is left alone again. Then we see this quiet but sublime little verse, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

The Treasure of the world had come. The Prince of Peace was here. The Promise of God has come down to us. It is in our hearts, and minds, and will live there day after day affecting everything in our lives. Is Christmas gone? No, for the Christ Child, and His salvation, lives in you and me. He is in Mary, and in the hearts of all believers every day of our lives.

This Treasure, stored up in our hearts, can not stay contained. It will break forth from our hearts, and will express itself in words, actions, expressions of love, and mercy in the name of Jesus. The Lord Jesus lives in you and me. The more that we share Him the more He grows stronger, richer, and brighter in us.

Lord Jesus, Treasure of my heart, grow and increase in me daily. Break forth from me daily in a thousand different glorious ways all the days of my life. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado