Be Not Afraid

Matthew 1:20 ... an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear ...

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him [Zechariah] , “Do not be afraid ...

Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her [Mary], “Do not be afraid ...

Luke 2:10: And the angel said to them [shepherds], “Fear not ...

Four accounts of angels appearing to announce the birth of Jesus in these two gospels, and each time there is a calming word - fear not!  Warren Cole Smith writes about this, and how it is a calm in our anxious age, in his Ministry Watch blogpost that you can access by clicking --> here <--

It is interesting to note that each of these sudden appearances by a heavenly messenger seems to be the very first time the audience (Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and the shepherds) ever encountered such a being. That invitation to a stilled heart seems well placed! When an angel later appears to Joseph in Egypt, we do not see a similar command to "fear not." (Matthew 2:19-20)

When we seriously encounter the Gospel of Jesus for the first time, and are given the chance to follow Christ in faith and repentence, there must be a moment of hestiation - a moment of fear. What will my family say? What will I have to give up? Will this really work out for me?

When faith conquers fear in that moment, true life begins. The rubicon of fear has been breached and the life purchased by God becomes yours. Sure, as you continue your Christian journey you will continue to encounter anxiety, fear, and worry. But those encounters are different that the kind you first encounter - that time when you hear God calling you from darkness into light with the simple joyful Christmas words, "Fear not."

Matthew 28:20 " ...  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Pictured: The Annunciation to the Virgin / Painting by Adriaen van de Velde)