Greatest Treasure

In February 2000 I visited the ruins of Beth Shan in Israel, an ancient and remarkably glorious city. Like most Roman cities, in its day. the main street led to a busy marketplace and magnificent amphitheater. This main thoroughfare was the center of the city - its "cardo," a term from which we derive our English word “heart.”

 

Author and speaker, Barbara Johnson, writes: "All that is worth cherishing in this world begins in the heart, not in the head."  Interestingly, those things we unconsciously treasure tend to become off-center.  The Bible describes Mary's treasure after Jesus' birth: "But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)  Just as the physical heart is the center of the body’s comings & goings, so is the spiritual heart!  We foolishly fill our hearts with passing treasures, leaving little room for the useful and the lasting.  Mary heard the angels' message from the shepherds about The Savior -- the very Child whom she carried, birthed, and nourished that very night. His message was and would forever be The Treasure of her heart. What if our treasures, too, were of eternal significance and we held them just as closely as Mary held the Christ-child that night?  Would we not also find priceless treasures of peace, comfort, rest, security, and eternity in Christ Jesus.  Something terribly significant happened that night: Mary gave birth to (delivered) Jesus and that very same Jesus gave

new birth to Mary -- delivered her soul for all eternity. He gave her a new heart filled with the Greatest Treasure of all -- "the Savior Who is Christ the Lord." (V.11)  Do not miss the Treasure of Christ this season – ponder His message and hold Him close.