Morning Devotional 082224 Fear Not

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  August 22, 2024

Luke 2:8-12

8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 

Good Morning! I bring you Good News!

Today, we have more news sources available to us at any given minute than at any time in history. News headlines scroll across TV screens and smart devices. Our ancestors waited days, weeks, or years to receive news that happened, even what is now a short distance away. 

During the 1790s, it took three weeks for a letter to travel from New York to Cincinnati or Detroit and four weeks to arrive in New Orleans. In 1799, news of George Washington's death took one week to reach New York City from Virginia. A decade and a half later, it still took 49 days for word of the peace treaty ending the War of 1812 to reach New York from London.

When you consider the availability of news, it is easy to understand why so many people are without hope. The news at the “top of the hour” is filled with horrific, violent acts. One of the 21st-century additions to the dictionary is doom scroll: to spend excessive time online scrolling through news or other content that makes one feel sad, anxious, angry, etc.

When I opened today’s passage, I thought, “Why are we reading a Christmas passage in August?” Then I remembered Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

What better headline can we read in these desperate times than this: The angel said, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. We, your children, have made such a mess of things, yet you choose to send us the gift of salvation. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God’s gift of salvation is the best news.

Praise him, praise him, all the little children! Pastor Liz