Saturday, December 23, 2017

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 10:1-11:36; Zechariah 7:1-14; Revelation 15:1-8

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not. Luke 2:9-10

“O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie,” depicts a quiet town scene of tranquility. But this was far from the case. A cruel tyrant governed the world. He imposed heavy taxes. Fear gripped people’s hearts. Yet behind it all, a sovereign God was at work. An angel bursts from heaven telling poor shepherds to “Fear not”, and that “a Saviour (Deliverer), which is Christ the Lord” (v. 11) had been born. The long promised Messiah had finally come. During this Christmas season there is still hope. He is coming again! —Jim Comte

Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight. —P. Brooks