And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
Isn't it awesome that the angelic realm was speaking to the shepherds? I mean, when it came to occupations, shepherding was the lowest of the low. Many shepherds in that day were vagabonds and criminals. And God chose them to be an important part of the birth of Jesus.
The first words out of the angel's mouth: "Fear not." (And can you blame him? I'm sure they were frightened right out of their sandals). These same words were given to Mary when Gabriel spoke to her back in Luke 1:30-31, announcing that she would conceive from the Holy Spirit. Joseph also heard these words (Matthew 1:20).
The key point is this: Salvation gives us hope and it takes away fear.With Jesus as our Savior, what do we really have to be afraid of? Whether you are a man or a woman, you have nothing to fear if God is with you. If you have an occupation that isn't the most glamorous, you have nothing to fear if Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Whether you are older or are a teenager, you have nothing to fear if you've put your faith in Jesus Christ. "Fear not!" Our eternity is secure; we will be with Him forever!
Some may say, "That's all well and good, and I believe it, but I have quite a set of problems here and now. I have family coming over to the house, and that is causing me stress and tension." Or, "I have presents to buy, but no money to buy them." Or maybe a loved one has died and this will be the first Christmas without them. Whatever the fear or problem is, take heart; Jesus can supply the answer.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.
-Luke 1:30
And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
-Luke 1:35
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
-Luke 1:37
God can do what you or others may think impossible. The key is to allow the Holy Spirit to move and work in your circumstances and follow His leading.
You might be saying, "Yeah, but I have been praying about this fear, this problem, for years and nothing has changed." Well look at another passage in Luke to see another person (Zacharias) who hadn't received an answer to prayer his whole life.
But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you will call his name John.
Luke 1:13
The angel said, "fear not", and "your prayer is heard." And those are words that God speaks to you this day. Don't give up. There are countless testimonies of God's faithfulness to both hear and answer prayer. Yes, it can be difficult. Yes, I know it can cause great fear to wait for God to answer. But don't stop seeking God. Christmas is a time that we remember not only the birth of our Savior but also the faithfulness and goodness of our Heavenly Father.
This material was brought to you by Broadcast(B.C.)Christianity. Last Call Digest, is a ministry of Michael James Stone, volunteers, and people dedicated to the Love of God and Salvation of Souls. It is an aggragate of Christian Material selected to Bless you and Prepare you for each and every day you read them. May God Bless You as You Do!! Reading these Devotions will help you to prepare daily for life, living, and your Lord. You will hear God Speak To You thru them. Jesus is Coming Very Soon.
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