Do you know the sequence of the Christmas story and how it relates to you?

The Nation of Israel have been waiting for God’s Redeemer to come to rescue His people from the tyranny of the day. Fear has been a way of life with many going their own way. Yet, a small remnant is still waiting in expectant hope for the Christ child to be born. It is at this time in history the Lord God has purged and brought the faithful to the forefront when He sends the angel, Gabriel, to a virgin in Nazareth. Not just any virgin. This virgin is Mary, and she is engaged to Joseph. They are humble, faithful servants of the Lord!

Mary is told by the angel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the mother of God’s Son and not to fear (Luke 1:30). Next Joseph was told not to fear to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20). Then during the night, at the birth of Jesus, an angel appears to some—commonly thought of as beneath others—shepherds who are out in the fields watching their sheep. The angel’s astonishing announcement,

Do not be afraid…I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people.

Luke 2:10

“PERFECT LOVE, the apostle John writes, casts out fear. So when God’s angel broke the good news of the Savior’s birth to the cowering shepherds of Bethlehem, ‘Fear not!’ was more than an instruction for them to get up off the ground and stop shielding their frightened faces. The ‘glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people’ meant that fear’s grip on human hearts was going to have to give way to the far greater power of love.”

–Johann Christoph Arnold

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:18

Born this day in the city of David, born for YOU, a Savior who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).

Perfect love came down to take away fear!

Merry Christmas~