[Today’s Christmas devotion is part of the Weekend Word devotional series. Come back every Saturday for fresh insights from God’s Word, or follow my blog via email or WordPress to get my content sent straight to your inbox.]

Read: Luke 2:8-20

Today’s Scripture:  ^“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19, NIV)

As a naturally forgetful person, I’ve learned to write down my thoughts and experiences lest I forget them. When I want to reflect back on them later, I can return to those notes and recall everything that happened and what it meant to me.

Though, also as a person who tends to rush at times, I sometimes neglect to slow myself down enough to stop and journal.

When that happens, I tend to regret it.

In a rush one day to get to my next destination, I didn’t write down the kind words someone had said to me. I knew that when I heard them, they meant a lot, but when I went to write them down later, I couldn’t remember what those words were.

I hadn’t treasured them like I should have.

Luke chapter two gives us a glimpse at the birth of Jesus. This was a significant moment in history. It was the long-awaited arrival of our Savior, the culmination of numerous prophecies across the entirety of the Old Testament.

While Mary could not yet fully grasp all of what this moment would mean, the significance wasn’t lost on her. She knew she had given birth to the Son of God (Lk. 1:32) and that He would save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21). Shepherds who had been visited by angels came to see the baby Jesus, sharing the angel’s message (Lk. 2:16-17).

What was Mary’s response to all this? She “treasured up all these things” (v. 19).

The phrase “treasured up” comes from the Greek word suntéreó. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, it has the meaning of “to preserve” or “to keep in mind” — to keep it from being lost.

Mary kept all these incredible events and their significance in mind. This moment mattered, and its meaning wouldn’t be forgotten.

At Christmastime, we’re celebrating the incarnation of Jesus — the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us (Jn. 1:14). His birth meant that He was about to make a way for us to restore our relationship with God.

When we read about Mary’s response to these events in Luke 2, it can serve as a reminder for us to take a moment and slow down — to really treasure what the birth of Jesus means to us.

Though this season can be hectic with all the Christmas shopping and gift wrapping, the travel through traffic to relative’s houses, and the cooking of large meals to feed the family, let’s not rush through it all. When we do, we miss out on the significance of the season, and it’s meaning is lost to us.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, don’t forget to take time to treasure the arrival of our Savior.

Today’s Thoughts: What does the birth of Jesus mean to you? Take time to reflect on what the arrival of our Savior means — salvation, a restored relationship with God, help in our time of need, a safe refuge in hardship. What else does He mean to you? How will you treasure Jesus this season?