December 2, 2021

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”  Luke 2:9 (NIV)

We’ve all had it happen to us before.  Everything is nice and quiet.  We’re sitting in the dark.  Perhaps sitting on the back porch watching the stars twinkle, listening to the crickets and the frogs add their music to the peaceful evening.  You sit there almost mesmerized by the peaceful serenity. 

BAM!

Your quiet solitude is pierced.  A loud noise.  A crash as something hits the ground.  A bright light that blinds you.  Or a person starts talking that you didn’t hear come up behind you.  And you are terrified! You grab your chest trying to give yourself CPR and revive your heart.  You grasp for air as you try to catch your breath.  And you could swear that you’ve just lost 10 years off your life.  That happens when your darkness is pierced by light. 

When the Glory of the Lord shines on the Darkness of the World, it brings terror to the world.  Perhaps that’s why we hesitate to surrender complete devotion to the Father.  We fear His Glory.  We fear His Convicting Presence.  We fear His Call to Service.  We are terrified; and so we wait and hesitate, and we fail to experience all that God has for us.

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Just think what the shepherds would have missed had they succumbed to their fear.  What blessings would they have missed?  What opportunities would have been lost?  But instead, they overcame their fears.  Will You?