God is With Us and For Us // Luke 2:9-10

Luke 2:9-10 (NIV) | 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.

I love gazing at the night sky! I enjoy making out the constellations, looking for shooting stars, and watching how the view changes as the earth spins through the galaxy. Ethan enjoyed doing this with me when he was younger. I miss those days. But imagine what it must have been like for the skies to part and an angel appear with that news. Humble shepherds were the first to receive Christ’s birth announcement, and then an entire host of angels joined in to praise God saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 1:14, NIV).

That message is for you and me today, just as much as it was for the shepherds that night. Sure, the eruption in the night sky must have been terrifying, but the overall message was clear: we need not fear because God is with us and His favor rests upon us. The light shining in the darkness. Hope illuminated. Peace resting. And as would be written a bit later, “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?

So, whatever is going on in your life on this Monday before Christmas, do not fear. God is with you and His favor rests on you. May that knowledge bring you calm so you, too, can rest easy in the glorious glow of our precious Jesus!