Bible Devotional: Afraid of a Baby?

I remember one Sunday I was at church when I was back at college, and the preacher was talking about how the birth of Christ in today’s world would be safe: because no one is afraid of a baby.

No one is afraid of a baby? Yet Herod sent for all the children to be slaughtered once Jesus was born because he was terrified of who Jesus was. If a great ruler such as Herod was terrified because of a baby boy who was born, prophesied, and promised to rule, why are we not afraid? Why are we not afraid of the single most powerful human who was born on this earth? Jesus was born as God as man. The Son of God in the flesh. We don’t realize how much power He had. He could’ve done anything, yet He chose not to. His action was to not strike us all down, but instead he had mercy on us, sinners who were trying to kill Him, and took all our sins and burdens on Him. Why did He do this? So that we would realize just how amazing God is. He could have chosen to wipe us all out for being sinners, which is the punishment we deserve, but He had a different plan, and chose to give us the option to choose Him, and choose His love and grace. And He accomplished all of that through one single person: Jesus. His amount of love? Astounding. His amount of power? Terrifying. For one man to be able to take every single sin in the world and have it placed on his shoulders shows a lot about God’s power, and also about God’s mercy. We just forget about the first part sometimes and only focus on His love because we as humans don't like to be afraid of anything.

Several times throughout the Bible, we are given examples and advice of how we are supposed to revere God.

"Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before Him. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow." - Ecclesiastes 8: 12-13

"He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." - Revelation 14: 7

"Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord." - Leviticus 19: 14

"Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing." - Psalm 34: 9

These examples are only the smallest amount of what is found in the Bible. We are told over and over again to fear God. Why? Because God is holy and sovereign. And being a holy and sovereign God, He will not excuse sin or disobedience to His commandments. He does not tolerate our sins and transgressions, but at the same time, He offers us a way to have those sins forgiven and taken away from us without suffering the horrible consequences of unbelief. God's power is often taken for granted or undermined because we like to focus on His love more than anything.

But think of it this way: if God was all love, we wouldn't have needed a savior to take all of our sins upon His shoulders, die for us, and save us from eternal death. Because our punishment - without Christ's blood - is death. God offers us mercy for His creation. We just have to realize what all it means to be saved by a sovereign God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," - Romans 8:1. You can’t have God's love and mercy without knowing His power and judgement, because then we become like others, who didn't fear the birth of a baby, or the coming of the Messiah. If we don't understand who God is, or who Jesus is, we become like the Pharisees, who wanted Jesus to die because they did not know who He was. So yes, I’m afraid of a baby. But I’m also loved, and pardoned, because of what that baby did for me. Because of His power and glory, I was saved. Not because of my power, not even close. If I were left to my own devices, I would be doomed. I am the worst of sinners, but because of God’s power, glory, and mercy, I was saved, and given a new life in Jesus. The whole world was saved because of one man who had the power of the Lord, but instead of using His power to destroy this sinful world, he was sacrificed as a substitute, giving up all of his power to save all us sinners. He took our place, took our sins, and gave his life to save us from eternal damnation.

How amazing is the power of our Lord?