But Mary Kept All These Things, and Pondered Them in Her Heart
The sermon emphasizes the importance of exercising memory, affection, and intellect in our relationship with God, and encourages believers to ponder and meditate on the things of God.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of memory, affection, and intellect in our relationship with Jesus, as exemplified by Mary, who treasured and pondered the things she heard about Him. He encourages believers to remember the works of Christ, to hold Him dearly in their hearts, and to engage their minds in deep meditation on His nature and deeds. Spurgeon urges the congregation to not only cherish their memories of Christ but to actively express their love and devotion, likening their hearts to an alabaster box pouring out affection. He challenges them to seek a deeper understanding of Jesus, urging them to go beyond surface-level engagement and to invite Him to abide with them. Ultimately, he calls for a heartfelt embrace of Christ, even when understanding may fall short.
Text
There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory--she kept 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 about 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 whereon 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 fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on His pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths.
Be not as the swallow which toucheth the brook with her wing, but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: let Him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night, but constrain Him, saying, "Abide with us, for the day is far spent." 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 taketh up the isles as a very little thing:"--who shall take Him up?
"He weigheth the mountains in scales"--in what scales shall we weigh Him? Be it so, if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace Him in the arms of affection.
Sermon Outline
- The Exercise of Memory
- The Exercise of Affection
- The Exercise of Intellect
- Meditate upon what you read
- Dive into the depths of God's Word
Key Quotes
“Make ready the balances of judgment.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“He taketh up the isles as a very little thing: who shall take Him up?” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to remember and treasure up everything about Christ.
- Exercise your intellect by meditating on God's Word and diving into its depths.
- Let your affection for God be the guiding force in your relationship with Him.