Encountering God
Sunday December 24, 2017
Encounters with the living God inevitably bring fear. On the night Jesus was born the angels had to reassure the shepherds, "Don't be afraid!" Once the shepherds realized that the angels of God wanted to communicate with them, they were willing to hear and then to seek the Christ child. Our Holy and Almighty God is a personal God who wants to share His plans with us. When we put our faith in Him, His perfect love will cast out all fear. We need not fear an unknown future for Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger....
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-12, 15-16 NIV)
God’s desire is that we receive His gift of love which casts out all fear. God seeks people who are attentive to who He is, what He does, and why He does it. God wants us to experience His unfailing love for us. Will we come to Him? Will we recognize Him? Will we respond to His love? Will we share the interests of His heart and allow Him to share in the interests of ours?
This Christmas, let's encounter the love of God through Jesus. Let's come close and experience the wonder of His presence with us.
Prayer: Loving God, Thank You for sending Jesus into the world so that our relationship with You might be restored. Amen
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