Fear Not, Let's Worship

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”                             —Luke 2:10-11

In our Advent sermon series, I have been asking the question, “If this was your Last Christmas, would you…?” The sermon for each week then completes the questions: Believer Boldly, Surrender Completely, and this week, “Worship Joyously.” Previously, we looked at John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah and then Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel. This week we will look at the Angel of the Lord’s pronouncement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.

In each encounter with Angels, there was fear and troubling (Luke 1:12), troubling (1:29), or exceeding fear (2:9). Simply bringing up the possibility of this Christmas being our Last Christmas causes many to fear. What if I am diagnosed with a terminal illness? What if Jesus returns in the Second Coming before next Christmas? What if I am in a terrible car crash or terrorist attack? We must admit, this can be a very fearful and troubling world.

To each onset of fear (to Zechariah, Mary, and the Shepherds), the angels responded with the words, “Fear Not,” “Do not be afraid.” Zechariah’s prayers had been answered (Luke 1:13); Mary had found favor with God (1:30); and the Shepherds heard good news of great joy (2:11). Because of Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to humankind, we need not fear. We can rejoice and worship God. Our prayers have been answered. We have found favor with God, and we have received and can share the good news of greatest joy with all people.

This Christmas, I am focusing on the joy and peace given to us by God. In addition to God’s greatest gift of His Son to us, God has given us His Spirit so that the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit may live within us forever. Romans 14:17 tells us, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Jesus prayed in the Upper Room before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves” (John 17:33).

If this was our Last Christmas on earth, many of us would be very fearful, and rightly so for some. But hear the Good News of great joy for everyone, “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). A Savior has come to rescue you from yourself, your sin, and your eternal punishment. As we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He gives us His peace and joy. The angelic hosts sang loudly that first Christmas, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

If you will call upon the name of the Lord, God’s favor rests on you. You need not be afraid but can join with God’s heavenly choir and worship the Lord. After the shepherds saw Jesus lying in a manger bed, they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). This Christmas, whether it be our first or our last, let us not fear; rather, let us worship the Lord in peace and joy.