Well, here we are again the Christmas Season. I often times stand in wonder of how I am able to get in the Christmas spirit again. But, it happens. This time of year fills my calendar with special Christmas ministry events. I love attending and sharing at church’s Christmas gatherings as tables are festively set, women are cheerful with friends in tow and hearts are receptive to Christ’s message. For me, it ushers in the Christmas season with such joy and preparation.
As I reread the Christmas story, I asked God to reveal a new message to me. He did just that as I studied through the first two chapters of Luke. These verses gave me a deeper appreciation of Mary’s amazing attributes.
She was:
- called favored one
- fully accepting of her lot in life
- able to say yes when she didn’t understand fully all that was before her
- willing to receive a revelation given to her
- named blessed because she believed
Even then, more of what Luke shares popped off the pages:
…“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 12:19)
…“His mother treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51b)
What do “these things” mean? In the Greek, “things’ (rhema) refers to that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken word. Rh?ma literally means an utterance (individually, collectively or specifically).1
Rhema is a specific word of God spoken directly to your heart. It’s like this…..
The pastor starts speaking his message and then a specific word hits you…that’s Rhema. Or, you are in your quiet time and you are personally convicted by what you are reading….that’s Rhema. That’s the Holy Spirit giving you the sword of the Spirit.
The test of the authenticity of Rhema, from God, is how it compares to the whole of Scripture (Logos). The more familiar you are with God’s word, it will be a built-in safeguard to prevent misinterpretation of the Rhema .
So, Mary treasured all the directly spoken words of God to her AND all the directly spoken words by the Word (Jesus) himself.
Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John 1:14 (NET)
Can you even imagine all Mary treasured? …Gabriel coming to her, the virgin birth of the Son of the Most High, Holy Spirit empowerment, rearing Jesus, loving Jesus, caring for Jesus, enjoying her son’s love and becoming a follower of Him.
That’s it.
That’s how we are able to get into the Christmas spirit each year by treasuring the Rhema, the words God speaks directly into your heart. Ponder on them throughout the whole year. Write them down in a journal. Keep them close to your heart. Reflect on them often.
If you need to recommit to reading His Word daily, now is a good time for that commitment. Start with the Christmas Story. It never get’s old.
Journeying with Him,
Jessie
1 Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible