Advent Alphabet - "K" - "Keep/Kept"

“All who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them. But Mary was keeping within her herself all these things weighing and pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19). There are precious and dear things we all have kept in our hearts. They are things we want to remember. They bring pleasure and joy to our hearts. Those memorable things are sometimes things we write in a diary, or keep in a picture album, but some things are just indelible on our hearts – they are precious and dear, and we never want to lose them. Spiritual Truths are dear to me and I keep them close in my heart – they bring me comfort, joy and peace. When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for Mary’s purification and Jesus’ dedication, to present Him to the Lord. There was an old man, Simeon, who was righteous and devout, and never left the temple enclosure. He was looking for the Consolation of Israel (the Messiah). When Simeon saw the parents with Jesus, he took Him up in his arms and prophesied over Him. And Mary and Joseph marveled at what had been said about Jesus. When Jesus was 12 years old the parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. When the feast was over the parents started home with the crowd not knowing Jesus had stayed behind. After a day’s journey they discovered He was not with the group, so returned to Jerusalem where, after three days they found Him in the courtyard sitting among the teachers listening and asking questions. When questioned about why He had stayed behind He replied, “How is it that you had to look for me? Did you not know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and occupied about My Father’s business? But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them. He went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and His mother kept (Gr. guarded, thoroughly watched) all these things in her heart. Also, when Jesus, with Peter, James and John were coming down the mountain from the transfiguration, and He was talking to them about rising from the dead, they faithfully kept (retained) the incredulous things they had seen and heard to themselves (Mark 9:9-10). Paul said in II Timothy 4:7, when writing to Timothy that he “had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept (watched over & guarded & firmly held the faith).” Can we say the same? Are we fighting the good fight; and persevering to finish this race we are in; and are we keeping the faith? As Mary kept those precious things about Jesus in her heart, we too should keep those precious things we know about Jesus in our hearts - His Word (Ps.119:69); His way (Ps.37:34). You will (guard) him and keep Him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is kept on You, because he commits himself to you, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. (Isaiah 26:3). Blog Address: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com