By Dr. Kerry Knight, Emerald Beach Church of Christ
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, “FEAR NOT.”
Luke 2:9-10
Fear seems to be the trappings of our upcoming year. With fighting in the Middle East, which has brought a new level of uneasiness, threats of nuclear attacks from leaders that seem to be power hungry, and major powers that want to control the world, courage and contentment could be in short supply.
The angel that appeared to the shepherds around Bethlehem offered hope to the world. The first century people had been waiting for the coming Messiah for hundreds of years.
The angels in the book of Luke offer a firm commitment. God is still in control. Paul writes in Galatians 4:4 that God did send His Son in the fullness of time. I am sure that hope had been dashed many times for the people of ancient Israel, thinking that God had forsaken them. But He is always going to choose the perfect time to reveal His will. That has not changed through all the millennium.
The Emerald Beach Church of Christ will be celebrating the phrase “Fear Not” all year long in 2024. Sermons will be selected and classes taught on that theme throughout the coming months. It is time for Christians to take courage.
“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)
