Fear

 Luke 2:9-10 ESV 

 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.  
 


We don't tend to associate Christmas with fear. Yet when the fiery angelic spirits appeared to the shepherds, they were terrified. Never has a birth been announced with such heavenly fanfare.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The shepherds started out right. Yet the love of God is the heart of wisdom, and that's what the angels proclaimed.

God is fearsome, he could condemn us to hell. Yet he loves us so much he sent his Son to redeem us to himself. This is the good news of great joy.

God didn't come to make our pleasures less. He came so that we might rejoice in him and in his salvation. Jesus isn't just the Jewish Messiah but the Saviour of the world.

'Glorious God, we rejoice in your salvation today. May we ever live for your glory, in Christ's name we ask this, amen'.  

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