Fear Not — How Big is Your God? (A Christmas Message)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10 KJV)

The advent of Christmas is upon us. I remember hearing the Christmas story a long time ago.
Most of us have heard or read the account of Jesus’ birth from Luke’s Gospel many times. In re-reading this passage I noted something for the first time:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings or great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2_8-10 KJV)

Shepherds tending sheep. Not unusual. Verse 9 says: “…the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.”

These lowly shepherds were the first one’s to hear the good news of the birth of Messiah. Let’s examine now the 10th verse yet once more:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10 KJV)

The first words the angel said to the shepherds were: “FEAR NOT”!

The Bible is literally full of fear. Philippians 4:6 tells us:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV)

“Do. NOT. Be. Anxious. What makes you tremble? A friend said to me: “How big is YOUR GOD”? Can you trust God to work out things in your life His way, and NOT yours? Are you going through desert experiences or situations that seemingly have no end?

Jesus came o this world, not as a king, not to the rich, nor to the elite powerful. He came humbly. A babe wrapped in strips of cloth. He won’t force himself into anyone’s life. You must invite him into your life:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev 3:20 NIV)

Wayno
12/20/2013