Kevin Dibbley - December 31, 2023
"No Fear for a New Year"
The world in which we live has become a very strange, dark, and dangerous place. In fact, since the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity has been living in less than ideal circumstances, to say the least. In the Bible, the people of God find themselves living as exiles in a hostile environment. Sin has put us out of the garden and into a world where evil lurks and sorrows abound. It is into this world that our Savior Jesus Christ enters. As we continue in Matthew's story of the birth of Christ, we see Jesus living as a refugee. Mary and Joseph and the baby are forced to live on the move. They land in places that are strange and dangerous. This is no accident. Jesus has entered our world with all its pain and brokenness. God sends His Son into exile for us in order that He might bring us safely home to God. This message, from Matthew 2:13-23, is called "No Fear for a New Year". Some of you might feel wounded, sorrowful, unsafe, and far from home. Jesus Christ knows what you feel and chose to enter our strange world for a reason - to rescue you and bring you safely into His world. This Sunday, we will see how, because of Christ, we can live in this strange world without fear and insecurity. We can find a perpetual safe haven in Christ for all that we face in this life until we reach our final destination. You don't need to live in fear any longer.
Scripture References: Matthew 2:13-23
From Series: "What Child is This"
Advent Series
