Today’s Reading: Luke 1
“Because of God’s tender mercy,
The morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
To give light to those who sit in darkness
And in the shadow of death,
And to guide us to the path of peace.” – Luke 1:76-79
Can you feel the anticipation? Like the moment right before the sun peaks up over the horizon, there is an expectation of what is to come. The Light of the World is coming. Those sitting in the darkness will be led out of the shadow of death as the Light guides them to the path of peace.
These are the words of Zechariah following the birth of his son, John. After waiting for years to be a father, Zechariah is holding his newborn son. Prayers answered; expectations met. In this very special moment, Zechariah spoke a blessing over his precious baby boy while also prophesying the coming of the Messiah.
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior
from the royal line of his servant David,
just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.” – Luke 1:68-75
He guides us down the path of peace, away from the darkness, out from under the shadow of death. Our mighty Savior rescues us from our enemies so that we can serve Him without fear. He provides for our salvation in order that we can experience His perfect peace, filled with His holiness and righteousness forever. When anxiety presses in, we can ask Him for peace; when we are overwhelmed with the circumstances of life, we can rest in the certainty of His faithfulness.
Lord, thank you for your mercy displayed through the birth of your Son. Thank you for rescuing us from the bondage of our sin and the strongholds of our past in order that we might experience peace. Fill our hearts with expectation of what is ahead as you guide us on the path of peace. Amen.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. – Psalm 4:8
The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
The Lord reigns as king forever.
The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace. – Psalm 29:10-11