Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read Luke 2:10

TEXT: "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not,
for behold, I bring you good news of great joy.'"



The days before Christmas were anxious times
of worry for me. What if I ended up with a stocking
full of coal? And of course there was always the
dreaded children's Christmas program! But the
days after Christmas were simply glorious: playing
with our Christmas toys, listening to Christmas
music, eating Christmas cookies. Life was good!

When the shepherds first saw the brightness of the
angel, and the surpassing brightness of God's own
glory, they were gripped with fear. But as the angel
announced the birth of God's Son, their great fear
gave way to greater joy. Life was good!

Life was really good for our first parents Adam and
Eve. God created them perfect and good. They knew
God loved them, and they knew they could depend
on Him to faithfully provide all their needs. Fear didn't
enter the picture until they disobeyed His command
and ate the forbidden fruit. At that moment, their
perfect knowledge of God was replaced with fear and
dread of His wrath and punishment.

We still live under that fear too. It's a fear that comes
from not knowing God perfectly or trusting Him
completely. When times are bad, when troubles come
upon us we find it difficult to lean completely in His
hands. But that's why Jesus came, to take our guilt
upon Himself and pay the penalty for our sins, in His
suffering and death on the cross. With all sins removed
and death completely conquered in Jesus' death and
resurrection, there is nothing left to fear. Life is good
indeed!


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we rejoice that You sent Your Son to
remove our fear by taking upon Himself the punishment
we deserve. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts
forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)