Remember!

Luke 2:16-21

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. Food for thought! In today's gospel reading, we read that "As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart." She treasured the words that the disciples had just told her about the child Jesus. The shepherds "repeated what they had been told about Jesus, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say." What the shepherds did was to repeat what they had heard about Jesus. And as they did this, "everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say." Until this point, it is just amazement; people are astonished; they are wondering at what the shepherds are saying. However, the gospel adds some illuminating detail. It says " As for Mary". In other words, only Mary did something extra. All the others just got astonished; just wondered about what was being said. But Mary went beyond just astonishment by TREASURING ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERING THEM IN HER HEART. Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. Mary remembered everything she saw and heard. “The shepherds went back to their flocks.” (Lk 2:20) Every good thing ends. The shepherds did not make the glorious moment at the feet of the baby Jesus an excuse for neglecting their daily duties. They went back to business. The same with us, the New Year Day marks the end of the holiday season; it ends our party and partying. So, let’s get ready to return to our duties, doing what the Shepherds did: The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Like Mary, let us remember always what the Lord has done for us in 2015. Remembering is crucial because as we know, it is often difficult to see God’s ways, much less understand them― until you look back and hindsight yields insight. In the Old Testament, Jacob had moaned in Genesis 42:36, that all things were against him. In hindsight, we can say, “No, Jacob, it only seemed that way. All these things that appeared to be against you were used by God for the saving of your family.” We must learn to remember. We must remember to learn that God will NEVER leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13: 5).
When you’re stuck with hard decisions, not sure which way to turn, and all hope seems gone, remember one thing and one thing only . . . God is with you. We tend to have a short term memory when it comes to God’s faithfulness. He may have parted Red Seas in our life, but when we’re in the desert and there’s no food or water, Red Sea miracles tend to lose their appeal. Yet, those miracles are our foundation to God’s faithfulness. If we can remember the times when God showed up for us in the past, we can face the difficulties of the present. The Disciples had seen Jesus perform many miracles— we have seen God work miracles in our own lives, yet like them we so easily forget them. That’s why Jesus asks us, “Don’t you remember” (Matthew 16: 9)?
Remember this clearly: ANYTHING that drops us to our knees and brings us to the foot of the Cross is GOOD for us.
The Bible time and again reminds us to remember today what we have learned about the LORD through our experiences with him. Here are some of the times the Bible reminds us to remember:
You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness (Deut 8:2-3)
You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. (Deut 5:15)
You shall remember well what Yahweh your God did to Pharaoh, and to all Egypt; (Deut 7:18)
Remember, and don't forget, how you provoked Yahweh your God to wrath in the wilderness. (Deut 9:7)
You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you. (Deut 15:15)
Remember what Yahweh your God did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt. (Deut 24:9)
Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you. (Deut 32:7)
Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. (Neh 4:14)
Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, (Psalm 105:5)
Remember Lot's wife! (Luke 17:32)
But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. (John 16:4)
I think you got it! Happy New Year!