Evening, January 27, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” — Luke 2:19

There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three aspects of her being: her memory–she treasured all these things; her affections–she kept them in her heart; her intellect–she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding were all exercised in the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what he has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread on which you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold him unwavering forevermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it is broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on his pierced feet. Exercise your intellect concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: do not stop at the surface; dive into the depths. Do not be as the swallow which touches the brook with her wing, but like the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: do not let him be to you as a rambling man, that stays just for a night, but restrain him, saying, “Abide with us, for the day is almost over.” Hold him, and do not let him go. The word “ponder” means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh, but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? “He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust:”–who shall take him up? “He weights the mountains in scales”–in what scales shall we weigh him? So be it, that if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass about the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace him in the arms of affection.