Scripture Reading: Luke 1:29-33
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Devotional: The reader cannot help but to identify with the astonishment and bewilderment of Mary as she listens to the words of God's angel.
Of course, the angel is privy to her fears, and responds to them by saying the words spoken whenever a human being is encountered by God, “Do not be afraid!”
The fundamental characteristic of humanity, that is in direct opposition to the life God intends for us to have, is fear. The antithesis of faith and the intent God has for us in Jesus Christ is fear.
Paul speaks frequently about fear, labeling it “worry”, and urges us to worry about nothing but rather to place our lives in the hands of the God who loves us in the Son Jesus Christ.
I suppose the fundamental ground out of which all fear emanates is the fear of death. Yet, it is in the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of this child that Mary is to bear, that the ultimate human fear of death and all fears issuing therefrom are conquered.
Because God sent us Jesus Christ, we have not only the license to be, but also the strength to be, fearless people.
Pause a moment in your prayer time and focus upon that which tends to generate fear in your own life. Then concentrate upon how Almighty God addresses that fear in Jesus Christ with victory for those who dwell in Christ and He in them.
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