Luke 1:78-79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Prophetic words Friends! Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, spoke them at John’s circumcision, eight days after his birth. Now Zechariah had been struck dumb for not believing when the Angel Gabriel told him that he would have a son, ‘great in the sight of the Lord.’ (Luke 1:15) At the circumcision they named him Zechariah, after his father, ‘And his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John,’ (Luke 1:60) This caused a commotion, for none of the family was named John, and tradition dictated that they named him after a family member. When they consulted the father in sign language, ‘he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.’ (vs.63-64) Yes Friends, when Zechariah finally accepted God’s word, his speech returned. And note, the first thing he did was praise God, then went on to prophesy about Jesus’ coming. Saying that John would would ‘be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.’ (vs.76-77) And all God’s people said Amen! For that’s exactly what John did. Then Zechariah continued. ‘Through the tender mercy of our God;’ Undoubtedly Friends, the goodness in our lives comes because of God’s mercy. He’s not obligated to show us any mercy at all, but we are His, and He LOVES us dearly, in spite of our disobedience. Extending mercy is His way of showing that LOVE. ‘Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.’ Oh People, that’s the greatest act of LOVE ever! Jesus; the Messiah, the rising sun, the dawn of heaven, coming to earth, ‘to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.’ Isaiah foretold it. ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’ (Is.9:2) And Jesus confirmed it. ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness; but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) Bless His Holy Name Friends, and be eternally grateful that through the Father’s tender mercy, His great LOVE for us, His only Son, Jesus obediently came down from heaven and shone His eternal flame on us, sinful children wallowing in the mire of darkness, lurking in the shadows of death. He also came ‘to guide our feet in the way of peace.’ Now that word ‘peace’ is very contentious; we all don’t see it the same way. But Jesus said; ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) There you go Friends. If we live in Christ, we’ll have peace; the peace of mind that’s necessary to overcome the problems of the world. That makes Bruh Paul’s advice invaluable. ‘For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.’ (Eph.5:8) And while walking as children of light, we’ll have the peace of Jesus. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) Listen to Him Friends. Much LOVE!…walking with Jesus…brings light to our hearts…and peace to our minds
Prophetic words Friends! Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, spoke them at John’s circumcision, eight days after his birth. Now Zechariah had been struck dumb for not believing when the Angel Gabriel told him that he would have a son, ‘great in the sight of the Lord.’ (Luke 1:15) At the circumcision they named him Zechariah, after his father, ‘And his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John,’ (Luke 1:60) This caused a commotion, for none of the family was named John, and tradition dictated that they named him after a family member. When they consulted the father in sign language, ‘he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.’ (vs.63-64) Yes Friends, when Zechariah finally accepted God’s word, his speech returned. And note, the first thing he did was praise God, then went on to prophesy about Jesus’ coming. Saying that John would would ‘be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.’ (vs.76-77) And all God’s people said Amen! For that’s exactly what John did. Then Zechariah continued. ‘Through the tender mercy of our God;’ Undoubtedly Friends, the goodness in our lives comes because of God’s mercy. He’s not obligated to show us any mercy at all, but we are His, and He LOVES us dearly, in spite of our disobedience. Extending mercy is His way of showing that LOVE. ‘Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.’ Oh People, that’s the greatest act of LOVE ever! Jesus; the Messiah, the rising sun, the dawn of heaven, coming to earth, ‘to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.’ Isaiah foretold it. ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’ (Is.9:2) And Jesus confirmed it. ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness; but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) Bless His Holy Name Friends, and be eternally grateful that through the Father’s tender mercy, His great LOVE for us, His only Son, Jesus obediently came down from heaven and shone His eternal flame on us, sinful children wallowing in the mire of darkness, lurking in the shadows of death. He also came ‘to guide our feet in the way of peace.’ Now that word ‘peace’ is very contentious; we all don’t see it the same way. But Jesus said; ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) There you go Friends. If we live in Christ, we’ll have peace; the peace of mind that’s necessary to overcome the problems of the world. That makes Bruh Paul’s advice invaluable. ‘For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.’ (Eph.5:8) And while walking as children of light, we’ll have the peace of Jesus. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) Listen to Him Friends. Much LOVE!…walking with Jesus…brings light to our hearts…and peace to our minds
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