Sunday night as we were singing our Christmas cantata, I sang with our choir the words, “Fear thou not, fear thou not.” Those were the words spoken to both Mary and the group of shepherds by the angel (Luke 1 and 2). As I sang those words I thought, “How many times has the Lord comforted my heart with those very same words…’Fear not’?” Over and over again. Who but the Lord could calm my fears?
I was reminded recently in a message that the opposite of fear is not courage, it is love. God could tell Mary, the shepherds and you and me not to fear because He demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins. His sacrifice, death and resurrection makes everything right. We don’t have to be afraid of sickness, death, financial woes, or other trials because His love for us is constant and life-changing. His love makes me not be afraid because I know that His love causes Him to do what’s best for me; I can trust my God with my life.
If there were no Christmas there would only be fear, but because Jesus came to demonstrate His great love for us, we can “Fear not!”
RefreshHer 