Advent Daily Devotional: December 12

December 12 by Darryl Snow

Reading: Luke 1:76-79

76 And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord

to prepare his ways,

77 to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,

the dawn from on high will visit us

79 to shine on those who live in darkness

and the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

It is easy for us to think of Scripture simply as something that happened a long time ago.  But, if we dig deeper we will often find that the implications of a passage can be eternal.  Consider Luke 1:76-79.  In this passage we see what is said about John the Baptist, specifically that he was given a mission to prepare the way for the Messiah, so that Heaven’s light might shine on humankind.

In our family we begin to get in the Christmas Spirit when the Holiday Lights Spectacular opens for the Season.  We try to visit it early and often. There’s just something about how the colored and twinkling lights transform the normally boring landscape.  Light has a way of doing that. Light and what it can do is what makes this passage in Luke so fascinating.

Light is fundamental to our existence. In Genesis 1:3-4 we see God issuing His first command, to bring forth light. Strangely, we don’t really see light, but rather we see what reflects light. It illuminates the world so that we can see what is there.  And this is precisely what Luke 1:76-79 proclaims about Jesus.  That He is Heaven’s light, and by Him we can see what this world really is.  This is the promise of Christmas, that Mankind does not need to stumble through life, through the darkness, because God has provided Light so that we may truly see!

Prayer: Holy Father, we give you reverent praise for your Holiness, your Wisdom and your Goodness. We praise you for the continual unfolding of your Kingdom in this world. We pray also for those who are suffering and alone. Make us into your true servants that we might comfort those who are comfortless and love those who might otherwise be our enemies. Forgive our failures Lord for they are many and help us to be forgiving toward others.  For it is unto Jesus, the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only Wise God to whom belongs all Glory and Honor forever, Amen.