Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. – Luke 2:10
There were some men out in the fields that night minding their business, which was sheep. And then a bright light shone in the sky and an angel appeared. The first thing the angel said to them was, “Don’t be afraid.” The shepherds may have been thinking, ”that’s easy for you to say!” The angel announced Christ’s birth and where He’d be. And then a heavenly choir appeared singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) Can you imagine that dark, quiet field being transformed into bright light and singing? Wow!
A manger in Bethlehem was the only clue the angels gave the shepherds to His whereabouts. Did they scurry from manger to manger until they found the holy family? What excitement when they found them! Fear was the last thing on their minds now. God had singled them out to tell them the good news about the Savior, Christ the Lord, which they undoubtedly had heard about from prophecies beforehand.
Later, when Jesus ascended from the earth and the disciples stood there with mouths agape, an angel came and asked them why they were just standing there gazing. Why indeed! The angel announced the return of Christ (Acts 1:11). Currently, people go about their many businesses. Just as the shepherds’ reality changed in an instant, one day, modern life will change, too. Don’t be afraid! Though the nation may be going through tough times, God is sovereign and He loves and cares for His people. Pray for the nation’s leaders and citizens to be ready for His coming.
Today’s Verse: Luke 2:10
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
