Ponder His words ∙∙

Ponder His words ∙∙

Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. – Luke 2:19

Luke 2:10-20

10 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 “This will be a 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 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

17 When they saw this, they made known the statement that had been told to them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Oswald Chambers’ Call to Reflection

Throughout his years at the Bible Training College in London (1911–1915), Oswald Chambers became known for his thought-provoking teachings that frequently caught his students off guard. A young woman who studied under him recalled how discussions often spilled over into mealtimes. Students would bombard Chambers with pressing questions and objections to his bold statements. Yet, he always responded with calm assurance, offering a serene smile and advising, “Just leave it for now; it will come to you later.” Chambers believed in the value of reflection, urging his students to meditate on their questions and allow God to reveal His truth in His own time.

The Depth of Pondering

To ponder is to engage in deep, thoughtful reflection, to hold something in your heart and carefully consider it over time. It is not hurried, nor is it superficial. Instead, pondering invites us to focus intentionally on the deeper meanings and implications of life’s events.

We see this beautifully modeled by Mary, the mother of Jesus. After the extraordinary events in Bethlehem, from angels proclaiming the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds worshiping the newborn Savior, Mary’s response was profound in its quiet simplicity. “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Instead of rushing to understand or explain, she kept these moments close, cherishing them in quiet communion with God and seeking His wisdom.

Mary’s Example of Seeking Wisdom

Mary offers us an enduring example of how to seek the Father and His guidance. Her life reminds us that when things seem uncertain or beyond our understanding, our role is not to demand answers but to rest in God’s presence and trust in His timing. She teaches us to treasure the things the Father brings into our lives and quietly bring them before Him, trusting His wisdom and love to reveal their meaning.

When children of the King accept His leading, as Mary did, they open their hearts to receive His manifold blessings. Among these, one of the most precious is the assurance of His tender love and care. The Father not only grants guidance but also reassures us of His constant presence and affection.

Treasuring Moments of Reflection

Life often calls us to pause and reflect. The moments God orchestrates are not random; they are intentional opportunities to listen, understand, and draw closer to Him. The act of reflection helps quiet the noise and aligns our hearts with His. God desires not only to answer our questions but also to deepen our relationship with Him in the
process.

REFLECT & PRAY

Taking intentional time to reflect is a powerful spiritual practice. When God speaks, we have the responsibility to listen—to open our hearts, receive His truth, and respond with faith.

Father, thank You for the still, quiet moments where we can reflect on Your love and seek Your wisdom. Teach us to rest in Your timing and to trust Your perfect plan. Amen.

INSIGHT

Mary an Example of Deep Contemplation

Mary, the mother of Jesus, serves as a profound example of what it means to thoughtfully examine and reflect upon the words and works of the Father. She didn’t merely hear; she listened actively, sought to comprehend, and intentionally set aside time to meditate. A superficial encounter with God’s Word achieves little. Retention is fleeting, and its impact diminishes quickly. However, when we turn His word over in our minds time and again, faith deepens, our spiritual understanding expands, and the layers of His truth progressively unfold. At times, the content is deep and almost infinitely complex. It can never be plumbed entirely by a child of the King in this lifetime.

Scripture reveals Mary’s example of deep reflection. Not only did she treasure the messages she received, but she also meditated on them, uncovering their profound significance. The more she reflected, the more cherished and meaningful His words became.

“She was not astonished, but filled with holy awe” . . .. “Mary would go over each detail in the words of Gabriel and of the shepherds and compare the sayings with the facts so far developed and brood over it all with a mother’s high hopes and joy” (A.T. Robertson).

What Does it Mean to Ponder?

The Greek word for “ponder” in Luke 2:19 is symballo. A combination of “syn” (together) and “ballo” (to throw), it suggests “casting together” or “deeply reflecting to compare and discern meaning.” Symballo conveys the idea of “meditating on something complex to unlock its mysteries.” Frequently, as we mull it over in our minds, the Holy Spirit provides supernatural insight and understanding. Mary demonstrated this beautifully; she constantly turned the words spoken to her over in her mind, seeking divine understanding.

This act of pondering isn’t a shallow mental exercise; it engages the heart and spirit. When we take our thoughts and experiences to the Father in prayerful meditation, the Holy Spirit illuminates new insights. Thoughtful contemplation and ongoing reflection grant access to the deeper, richer layers of God’s truth that remain hidden to mere surface-level engagement.

The Power of Spiritual Reflection

Through contemplation guided by the Holy Spirit, our comprehension of God’s purposes grows alongside our faith. Yet, life often tempts us to adopt a worldly perspective, rushing through moments without pausing to discern their spiritual significance. This hurried approach robs us of the opportunity to hear God’s voice and understand His will. Reflection and meditation, however, allow us to align our perspective with His, opening the door to spiritual growth and transformation. Through this process, the Father opens our minds to comprehend the Scriptures.

Mary’s way of cherishing and meditating upon God’s words exemplifies the approach every child of the King should take. When we dedicate ourselves to reflection, God reveals the life-changing depths of His truth, unlocking wisdom and understanding.

Jesus as the Model of Spiritual Illumination

Luke 24:27 tells us about one of the most extraordinary moments of biblical insight. After His resurrection, Jesus walked alongside two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The Lord Jesus Christ gave them a crash course in Old Testament Christology. He directed their attention to passages that specifically detailed the Messiah’s sufferings, commencing within the Law and the Prophets segments of the Hebrew Scriptures. Scripture says, “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

Imagine the awe of hearing Jesus Himself explain God’s Word, bringing to life passages that once seemed cryptic or unclear. These disciples later described their experience as having their “hearts burning within them” while He unveiled the Scriptures (Luke 24:32). This moment was the ultimate example of spiritual illumination, setting the standard for how to engage with God’s Word.

What Jesus did on the road to Emmaus didn’t just provide understanding; it created lasting transformation. His simple yet profound method of reading, explaining, and interpreting God’s Word became a model for the apostles in their ministries. It became the Gold Standard to be emulated. It served as a model for the apostles, which they adopted in their preaching, as seen in the Book of Acts. It demonstrated that true spiritual illumination doesn’t come from human reasoning alone but from minds opened by the Spirit of God.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Understanding

What does it mean to have your mind open to understand the Scriptures? Human fallen DNA tends to be close-minded, hardhearted, and unresponsive. This is our natural state and disposition. Paul tells us, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Without divine intervention, the richness of God’s Word remains incomprehensible. This explains why Jesus’ disciples struggled to understand the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies even while walking with Him.

However, the Father, in His infinite mercy, sent us the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to illuminate His truths. The Lord Jesus Christ promised in John 14:26, “But when the Father sends the Helper as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” The Spirit enables us to see what was once hidden, providing insight and understanding to strengthen our faith and transform our hearts.

A Call to Treasure His Word

When was the last time you truly treasured God’s Word? Not just read, but cherished it? Like Mary, we are called to meditate deeply upon the Scriptures, to hold His words close in awe and gratitude. The power of His Word lies not just in its message but in its ability to continually shape us as we return to it time after time.

If we commit to pondering God’s Word, to turning it over in our hearts and seeking His divine insight, we will find that not only our knowledge grows, but so does our closeness to the Father. Through the Spirit, His Word becomes a source of life that burns within us, guiding, enlightening, and drawing us closer to Him.

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© Dr. H 2025