The Message Of The Angel - Do Not Be Afraid

Today’s Word Of Encouragement From Wayne:

"The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid Mary; for you have found favor with God'"

Luke 1:29-30

“Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit’”

Matthew 1:20

In Luke’s Gospel, as we have seen, the angel said to Mary “Do not be afraid.” Now, in Matthew’s Gospel we see the angel saying to Joseph “Do not be afraid.”

My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, God’s message to us right now is “Do not be afraid.”

Let God take away all of your fears, for He has come, in love, to you and for you.

What I see in both of these passages is how the angel first graciously addressed Mary’s and Joseph’s fears and then, having done that, he proceeded to give both Mary and Joseph God’s good word and good news for their lives. To Mary - “Do not be afraid Mary; for you have found favor with God.” To Joseph - “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

First the angel took away their fears and then they were able to hear and receive the angel’s good news to them. You have found favor with God! Go ahead with your marriage for God is in it! You will be parents of Messiah! This is of the Holy Spirit!

Beloved child of God - are you hearing the angel’s message for your own life? Don’t be afraid. You don’t have to be afraid. God is here. Immanuel is with you.

Let your loving Lord Jesus graciously touch you and take away your fear with His word right now, and then, just like Mary and Joseph, you too will be free and enabled to receive God’s promise of favor for you and His encouraging direction for your life.

Yes, you have found favor! Yes, you have a hope and a future! Yes, God intends to work all things out for you to the good!

When we allow God’s word and God’s messenger to take away our fears, then we can so much more clearly perceive God’s promises and that this is “of the Holy Spirit.”

“Do not be afraid.” God is here. His word is here. His message is here. His presence is here. His promise is here. His love is here. You are here. Hallelujah!