In his Gospel account of Jesus’ birth, Luke will have an angel suddenly appear on three separate occasions bringing a special message from God. To Zechariah, a priest “gripped with fear,” the angel says, “Do not be afraid; Zechariah, your prayer has been heard.” (1:13).
To Mary, a young virgin “greatly troubled,” the angel says, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. … “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” (1:28-30).
And to “terrified” shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night in fields near Bethlehem, an angel appears in glorious light and says, “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.” (2:10-11).
In all three occasions, the angel’s sudden and unexpected appearance caused great anxiety and fear. And in all three occasions, the angel reassured the recipients of God’s special message with the words, “Do not be afraid.”
I believe that same “angelic” message is being spoken to all of us who are greatly troubled, confused, and fearful today. I urge you to listen again and listen carefully to the Christmas carols, hymns, and messages being sung and spoken during these weeks of Advent. They speak of God’s love, joy, and peace, coming to you and me in Jesus’ birth as a human baby.
Listen to the angel say to you personally, “Your prayer has been heard.” Be reassured that God hears and is listening to the deep groanings and cries of your heart and soul. He hears and answers your prayers
Listen to the angel say to you personally, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Yes, you are highly favored and loved. That is why God, in Jesus, came into our world and experienced life with us as a human being.
Christmas is about God coming to us in the person of Jesus to be “Emmanuel,” God with us, taking away all our fears. “The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid.” And Christmas is about God coming to us in the person of Jesus to be our “Saviour,” giving us peace, joy, love, and eternal life.
Listen to the angel say to you personally, “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.” The message is for you. Accept his gift of forgiveness and amazing grace, cling to the freedom, joy, and peace of the gift; and then with glorious praise, join the shepherds in telling others the angel’s good news.
Yes, this wonderful story about Jesus’ birth into our world, is in danger of being simply a beautiful, non-threatening story about what God did many centuries ago. Yes, it is that, but it is so much more about what God is presently doing today in our world for our good, because of His amazing, sacrificial, unending love for us.
I also know that you may be finding it difficult to feel any Christmas happiness or reason to celebrate right now. The love, joy, peace, and hope of Christmas seems far removed from what you are presently experiencing.
Life has been difficult for many of us during the past year. There were bumps in the road, twists and turns that we did not expect. There were disappointments and detours in our journeys that we did not plan, leaving us feeling much pain and confusion as a result.
Nevertheless, I encourage you to hear the invitation of the Christmas carol, “And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful step and slow, Look up! For glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road And hear the angels sing.”
Personally feel the heartbeat of God’s love for you in “Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing.
Christmas is God’s answer to our brokenness and sin. Christmas is the good news that God wants to do something about our failures and fears. Christmas is about God coming to us, to forgive, heal, and restore us to a wholeness of love, peace, and joy; a wholeness of body, mind, and spirit; all because He so dearly loves us and desires a relationship with us.
Listen to the angel’s good news; Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid. Your prayer is heard. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today … a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Let us pray.
“O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend on us, we pray. Cast our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell. O come to us; abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel.”
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 8, 2021
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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