Because the birth of Christ shows us God’s Presence, Luke 2:9-14 The shepherds, working in the countryside, are suddenly confronted by an angel of the Lord, who said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” Don’t be afraid, “he said to them, because God is coming to be with you.” “For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
The shepherds were shocked and terrified at the presence of an angel because they may have thought that he was coming to bring judgment upon them. When the glory of the Lord shone around them, they didn’t know what to do, and caused fear to come into their hearts. That is why the angel said, “Fear not.” But their reaction is similar to the way many of us would react today because many of us are afraid of the supernatural presence of God.
When the angel told them to stop being afraid, not only was their terror soothed, but the angel’s words had a deeper meaning as well. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” What were those good tidings?
“There is born to you this day a Saviour.” God has come into your world to live among you! From here on, the world will be a different place—your lives will be different—because you have the presence of God with you physically.
If we remember the angel’s word to Joseph in Matthew 1, we’ll recall that Joseph was told the baby’s name was to be “Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” When Jesus was born, that was the moment in history, when God became one of us. Even though Jesus was crucified and rose again, and then ascended to the Father, we today still have the presence of God with us through the Holy Spirit. We need to stop being afraid fear not! —God is with you.
In the Hebrew Bible- (Old Testament)- God promised His presence to His people, so they didn’t need to be afraid anymore. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’ (Isaiah 41:10). God’s presence makes all the difference! That is why we don’t have to be afraid anymore. Jesus spoke about this: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
Jesus wants us to be aware of His presence with us – in us-, for in some of the last words He said to His disciples, He assured them: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Because Christ was born, we have the benefit of being in presence of God at all times! You remember the words of Christ to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus had already told His disciples in John 14, “Let not your heart be troubled.” In other words, don’t be afraid! Why? Because Jesus was going back to the Father, and there He would prepare a place for us. Don’t be afraid, because are going to be together forever.
Not only that but Jesus said, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:3)
But wait on! It gets better! The apostle Paul writes about the return of the Lord Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 4:17— “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”
All these wonderful things happen because Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem!
The Good news is that God’s presence is with us all the time, not just at Christmas, but many times we cannot see it. The presence of God was made available to us when Jesus was born into our material world. “Fear not, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
So, this Christmas and every Christmas, be aware of God’s purpose for your life. Do you know that God’s promise, is for you as it was fulfilled through His Son? Is God present in your life through Christ? Let me know, what you think I would love to hear from you in our comments section below.
The word of God to you today is go from fear to faith. Fear not – Jesus has been born! God has entered the world—and you don’t have to be afraid, anymore!!
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