Luke 1:78-79
Because of our God’s merciful compassion the Dawn from on high will visit us
to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Those are Zechariah’s words on the birth of his son, John. After nine months of silence (he was struck dumb because of his disbelief in the angelic word-see Luke 1:19-20) his heart was filled with a deeper and more profound sense of God’s work. And isn’t that the real point of the Christmas story- in the darkness God was at work, in the silent night of what appeared to be His absence God was at work. The opening chapter of Matthew’s gospel records the generations preceding the birth of Jesus…even when all seemed lost and Israel was in exile, God was working. AW Tozer writes, “When the Eternal Son became flesh, He was carried for a time in the darkness of the sweet virgins womb…It is as if God were saying, ‘What I am is all that need matter to you, for there lie your hope and your peace. I will do what I will do, and it will all come to light at last….”(The Knowledge of the Holy,p. 69-70).
The Dawn breaks on Christmas morning with the news that “a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:11). The light has come. Let us live in the reality of the light that the Dawn will come and even when darkness seems to hide God’s face we who believe will testify to the presence and power of our God.
Merry Christmas!
WINSTON COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 