The Dayspring from on High...

March 15, 2019

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace."—Luke 1:76-79

Note:  the dayspring is the sunrise, the figure corresponding to Ps 19:4-5, and speaks of Jesus, the light of the world coming from heaven to dispel the darkness of this world. 

For You, my God, so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  You demonstrated this great love toward us by dying for us when we were ungodly...dead in our trespasses and sins. Your tender mercies toward us, Father, are from old.  Your Son Jesus, is both the root and the offspring of Jesse, the Son of David, the bright and morning star, and the Sun of righteousness that came with healing in His wings.  He came as a light to the Gentiles and as the glory of the people of Israel.  He opened the eyes of the blind, and led them in a way they knew not. He brought the prisoners out of darkness of the prison house.   He make darkness light before us and the crooked places straight...these things He does and continue to do...He does not forsake us. 

You, Father, opened my eyes and turned me from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.  From your hand through my belief in Your precious Son, Jesus, I have received forgiveness for my sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in You. 

When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me.  My Shepherd, Jesus, is gentle and lowly in heart and it is in Him that my soul finds rest. Righteousness goes before Him and I have made His footsteps my pathway.  My heart sings for the light has come and His glory is upon me...For it is You my God who has shone in my heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  Father, may all the earth come to Your light and kings to the brightness of Your rising.