and in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 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. for unto you is born this day in the city of david a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” [luke 2:8-11]
“fear not”
so many things bring fear…
- marriage struggles rolling into the new year
- the idea of being alone in the new year
- finances in the new year
- friendships that are strained
- health that is rocky
- our kids well being
- our parents well being
- past memories that will not fade
- past sins that haunt our heart
- past failures that bring silent shame
so many things bring fear.
but –
only one thing, brings real, tangible, life-changing hope –
that is louder than all our fears –
the presence of – JESUS.
“fear not, for behold, i bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. for unto you is born this day in the city of david a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
the shepherds fear was pretty narrow.
they were caught in the midst of a great angelic being announcing the coming of the long, long, long awaited messiah – Christ the Lord!
the shepherds caught in this moment were –
- small
- human
- weak
- broken
- needy
- forgotten
- limited
- sinners
- fear-full
they angel was –
- majestic
- holy
- not-human
- filled with power
- an obedient vessel
- a messenger of the Most High
- a worshipper
- filled with joy
as these two worlds met, the greatest difference was not their jobs or even their nature – it was WHO they lived with and in. notice …
and in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
the shepherds lived in the field with each other and their sheep – for the most part. this was their life, day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute – in the presence of sheep.
this angel (note: just one at this moment and still much fear) was full of the glory of the Lord. that glory is was shone in great majesty and might to these shepherds. that is what brought the greatest fear. the glory of the Lord.
this glory is hard to describe but it is – the overwhelming presence of the Lord revealed in its fullness. and his glory was not coming directly from his presence. it was coming from an angel – who had been in his presence. who lived in his presence. this was his life, day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute – in the presence of the Lord!
and now, the angel came to reveal a message:
the only one greater than all our fears, who is all-powerful over the sin that births all fear, who is the hope of this world, who is the hope of our soul, and who is the joy for all people – is here – Jesus!
today – fear will come.
it is birthed from the brokenness of this world that screams – fear.
God has given us emotions in our heart to recognize fear – not to be paralyzed by it – but for this fear to drive us to Jesus – the King of kings – who has conquered all fears and rules over all fears.
today – as fear comes – run to and submit to your king.
we run to you Jesus our King. we come to you and submit to you our king over all – even all our fears.
in Christ, our Savior and Lord, we have one who is with us (Immanuel) –
he is our life. with us – day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. we are in the presence of the Lord!
~ john ryan