The celebration of Christmas is long past, but I am still contemplating lessons that I can apply today. For instance, think about the response of the shepherds to the angels’ message compared to Mary’s response once visited by those shepherds.

After the shepherds were visited by angels who told them about the birth of a Savior, they rushed off to find Him. “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, … But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:17, 19).

Clearly, the shepherds were to proclaim the Good News that had been revealed to them. Believers were assigned a similar role by Jesus in the Great Commission when He taught, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). And the apostle Paul added, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

In many instances, we are called to speak up and speak out. Other times, like Mary, we are to treasure things close to our heart. Ponder what has been revealed. Mull it over in our mind and consider the weight. Perhaps the revelation or instruction is for us alone or something God will add to later or allow us to share at another time.

Solomon, the wisest man ever, summarized that there was a “time for everything” including “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). May we learn to pause and seek God’s wisdom to know which to do when.