But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Have you ever been told, “This is only the beginning,” in an exciting time like a wedding or the arrival of a new baby? When we say this, we communicate that as good as the moment is, there is much more to come. The arrival of Jesus was more than a passing moment of excitement that came and left. It was the beginning of an unfolding beautiful story. Mary treasured these wonders of Jesus’s arrival long after the moment passed. The shepherds also shared in the joy of the moment and the anticipation of more to come by sharing this news with others.

This grand story of redemption is still unfolding. We don’t just ponder the coming of Jesus for a season or one day on the calendar. We can have joy because our Savior’s impact went far beyond the moment of His arrival. He came, He lived, He endured, He died, He rose, and He ascended so that the hope of God would be made available to all people throughout history. As a part of His prayer for His followers in John 17 He said, “But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” He has given you access to continued joy in Him. This is full joy that goes beyond comfortable circumstances into the hardest places of life. May we treasure the wonder and beauty of Jesus like Mary and share this message with joy and excitement like the shepherds.

• What are some ways we can “ponder in our hearts” the truth about Jesus each day?
• What are some ways you have struggled to receive the joy of Christ? How does His ongoing presence encourage us in these times?
• Pray and ask God to help you rejoice in Him today and every day.