+DEV+ Do Not Be Afraid

Date: December 11, 2011 9:31 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Do Not Be Afraid

Do Not Be Afraid

"Mary was greatly troubled at [the angel's] words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary...'" (Luke 1:29-30).
Scripture Focus: Luke 1:26-33

The angel's greeting had Mary bewildered. Why would he come to her or to anyone in small-town Nazareth? With Herod tyrannizing the Jews, kingdom hopes seemed completely out of reach. Mary had been born into and raised during a time of bitterness for God's people, circumstances that perhaps moved her parents to give her the name that means "sea of bitterness." In this unlikely place with a girl from a lowly family during a time of despair, God came near...and the script begins to take surprising turns.

Mary's fears were eased by Gabriel's assurance that she had found grace with God. Favor can be earned, but grace is freely given. Mary found God's grace while she wasn't even looking! God approached her with freely-given, unearned grace.

And this is exactly how He approaches us today. In the messiness of our lives, while we're lost in our sorrows, God reaches out to us with a free gift beyond compare: new life in Jesus Christ and salvation in His name. Do not be afraid to accept it.

Insight: "...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b). Your "morning" is now. Christ-mas morning will hold more joy than ever!