...But God

Luke 1:13 
Matthew 1:20-21 
Luke 1:28-30
Luke 2:10-11

Creators and Guests

Host
Chad McBeam
Business Leader, Foster Advocate and Fighter of Human Trafficking, Chad enjoys hosting this podcast channel as a way to spread and highlight the great examples of those who live out their faith daily. He can also be seen on occasion on your TV or Film Screen or be heard narrating one of your books as his love of acting has stuck with him since his childhood.
Writer
Aaron Marcarelli
After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university.  However, God had other plans.  Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years.     Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.
LC
Designer
Linda Cowen
Linda Cowen of San Antonio Christian School is our gracious and talented art designer for the But God, weekday morning devotional series.

What is ...But God?

A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam

“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.”
Luke 1:13

“…behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””
Matthew 1:20-21

“…Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Luke 1:28-30 NASB2020

“And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NASB2020

4 times Gabriel or another Angel appears to the key figures (Zachariah, Joseph, Mary and the shepherds) in the preparation story of Christ’s birth. Each time one of the first things the angel appearing says is “Don’t be afraid”.
Why is an Angel of the Lord, who brings the greatest news ever, that the Messiah is to be born need to tell those he is appearing to “not be afraid? For most people having an Angel appear to you can be a little disconcerting. Each of the “Don’t be afraid” statements meant different things. For Zachariah nobody but him was supposed to be in the Holy of Holy area at the alter burning incense and the angel was telling him to stay and listen, for Joseph it was more of a pay attention and you don’t need to wake up from this dream, for Mary it was an explanation of why he God favored her, and for the shepherds it was to calm them for people or angels don’t normally appear out of thin air in the middle of a sheep pasture.
Each of the 4 characters heard what God wanted them to hear because that “Don’t be afraid” phrase drew their attention to the Good News that was forthcoming.
I’ve had the blessing of having an Angel appear to me. Now he did not say “Don’t be afraid when he greeted me, he was certainly unconventional and was not what one would picture as an Angel. Nonetheless he was what I needed at the time and he spoke to me in the way I needed in order to help me make a decision to follow Christ.
Now here is the great and awesome way God works. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The great protector. Yesterday we read Peter’s words where he explained that we “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Jesus would tell us multiple times in His sermons to not be afraid to not worry, ““For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”
Matthew 6:25, 31-33 NASB2020
The Angel with the words “Don’t be afraid” was foreshadowing the “adventus” of Christ and with His coming not only would He take away the sin of the world, but He would conquer fear and give us the protection, and power to take on anything the world has to throw at us.
Therefore we don’t have to fear. Jesus not only took away the sins of the world, he, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has conquered fear and despair. Trust Him and His righteousness!
Lord we thank you that we do not have to fear. Thank you for giving us your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to trust in you! Help us to not fear but lean on you and not our own selfish fears. Guide us as we daily prepare for your coming. We pray all this in Jesus Name Amen…
Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On!