T-33: Calming Fears

All of us know fear, some more than others. Whether we fear for our own safety, for the safety of our children or fear whether we are doing the important things, we all have this in common. Intellectually, we know that we need not fear but emotionally, ah, there’s the rub.

In our text today, we see a type of fear to which I’m sure we can relate. Consider…

Luke 1:29-30 (NIV)
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. [1]

In the presence of the angel Gabriel, Mary knew fear. She was ‘greatly troubled’ at being greeted by an angel and who wouldn’t be! But Gabriel consoled her “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

The favor that Mary had found was the result of her faithfulness and her obedience. It is a favor that you and I can also know. Oh, true that we will not become pregnant with the Son of God (because he’s coming back via the clouds) but we find favor with God through our belief, our faith and the practice of our faith.

Throughout the Bible, people found favor with God through faithful obedience. Throughout the Bible, people came under the wrath of God through sinfulness. Thus, as Christians we immediately find favor with God. At a practical level, we can grasp this by considering how we feel about the friends of our own children.

When my children introduce me to a friend, they are immediately counted among my friends. As my relationship with them develops, I discover their character and their influence and it is only then that they may come under my wrath. Love my child, do what is right and you remain in my favor. Hurt or despise my child, do what is wrong, lead them astray and the gloves come off. It is an imperfect analogy for our relationship with God through His Son Jesus but it is within our understanding.

And throughout scripture we are repeatedly reminded that if we have God (and his favor) then we need not fear anything or anyone. So it was with Mary. Though she was troubled by the greeting of Gabriel (perhaps as much by the fact that he was ‘masculine’ and she was, well, feminine as by the fact that he was an ANGEL) she had no cause for fear because God was with her.

Last night, a friend of mine revealed that his testimony of brokenness was to be presented before an entire congregation tonight. He expressed his trepidation and fearfulness and as quickly as he acknowledged them, he remembered that God was with him and he need not fear.

We too need only acknowledge our fears before God that we may be reminded by The Spirit (no angels required) that we are children of God and that we too have found favor in his sight. What a wonderful and awesome God we serve!

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.