Worship: Praise, Proclaim, and Ponder 2/27

 Worship: Praise, Proclaim, and Ponder

The Christmas story presents a beautiful contrast in worship. The angels praised loudly, and the shepherds, after their encounter, went out and proclaimed the good news to everyone they met. Yet, Mary, the young mother, "kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." She treasured the moments, replaying and reflecting deeply on the miracle unfolding before her. Both the loud, public celebration and the quiet, internal reflection are valid and powerful forms of worship. Whether you are a "shepherd worshipper" who celebrates loudly or a "Mary worshipper" who soaks in God's work in stillness, an authentic grasp of who Jesus is makes indifference impossible.

Luke 2:19-20 (KJV): “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

Reflection: In what ways do you naturally express your worship to God…through outward praise and proclamation, or through quiet pondering and reflection? How might you intentionally cultivate the other form of worship this week to deepen your connection with Him?

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media