"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"

Fear not.

Those were the first words the angel spoke. And for good reason. When the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds, they were filled with great fear. Something was happening that they couldn't explain or control.

But the angel's response to their fear was not a feeling. It was a fact.

"For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Notice this...the angel didn't offer an opportunity. The angel made an announcement. Not "Here's how you can achieve joy if you respond correctly." Not "Here's a path to joy if you're interested." The angel brought joy to them. Joy was wrapped up in the announcement itself.

And what was the content of that announcement? "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Three titles. Savior. Christ. Lord. Each one loaded with meaning. Each one a reason for joy.

Here's what's important, true joy is not something we generate. True joy is our response to an incredible reality. The reality that God has done something we could never do for ourselves.

This is so different from how we usually think about joy. We think joy comes after we respond correctly. We treat joy like a reward for spiritual achievement. But the shepherds hadn't done anything. They weren't praying. They weren't seeking. They weren't performing. They were just doing their job in the dark.

And joy came to them.

The joy the angel announced was for all people. That includes you. Right now. In whatever situation you find yourself. The announcement has been made. A Savior has been born. Christ has come. The Lord is here.

Paul wrote to the Romans that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). That power doesn't depend on our ability to get life right. It depends on what God has already done.

So here's the question. Are you waiting for conditions to improve before you let yourself experience joy? Are you waiting until you get your act together? Until your family is fixed? Until your circumstances change?

The announcement has already been made. The joy is already here.

Tomorrow, we'll look at what it means that a Savior was born...and why that truth should fill us with incredible hope.

1. Have you been treating joy like something you must earn rather than an announcement you receive? What would change if you stopped?
2. What fears are keeping you from receiving the good news of great joy today?

Read Luke 2:10-11 out loud three times today. Each time, emphasize a different title: Savior, Christ, Lord. Let the announcement settle into your heart.