Luke 2:10
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
Suggested Scripture readings – Luke 2
When the pastor heard the voice on the phone he cringed a little inside. It was Miss Judith. When she called her first words to him were always the same. “Pastor, I’m scared.” She was a timid little lady that had several issues that caused her almost constant anxiety. The pastor loved her and truly wanted to help her but it was always the same. She had seen something on the news that had frightened her and she would call him for reassurance. He would counsel her, read Scripture and pray with her. She would take heart and be more at peace when the conversation was over. He regretted his first reaction. While her fears seemed trivial to him, they were very real to her. As he thought about her call it occurred to him that she really was not so different from most of the people of the world. They live with constant fear and doubt. What would tomorrow bring? What new threat would they face? Death and the unknown were a constant worry. Fear causes many people to loose sleep, every night. Fear was a nameless worry that always hung in the back of their minds. As he thought about these fears he remembered the words of the angel to the shepherds that first Christmas. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) The birth of Jesus Christ was God’s ultimate answer to the fears that we all face. Sinful man is in constant anxiety because he is separated from the loving God who created him. The result of the separation is sin which always causes fear. Jesus came to re-unite man and God. Only when you are at peace with God can you truly understand what real Joy and freedom from fear is. The fact is that there is no real peace and joy apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. As you consider the message of the angel that night you can take heart. Your sins are forgiven. Your future is secure and death no longer has victory over you. Therefore,
Fear not! The glad tidings that he brought means that Jesus is here and fear is banished!
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
