Sunrise from On High

Have you ever been tongue-tied; you couldn’t say what you wanted to say? The godly priest, Zacharias, had such an experience, except he was literally unable to speak. It hadn’t always been that way. He had led a remarkably righteous life. Then, one day, when he was performing his priestly service, he was chosen to burn incense in the temple. As the people prayed, he alone entered the temple. That’s when things changed. The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zacharias and fear gripped him. The angel spoke wonderful news. His wife, who had not been able to get pregnant, was going to conceive and bear a son. They were to name him John. Most importantly, their child would be the forerunner to the long-awaited Messiah. Shocked at both the news that they were going to have a baby and that their child would hold such an esteemed position, Zacharias asked, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). Gabriel told Zacharias that since he didn’t believe him, he wouldn’t be able to speak until John was born.

How’s that for a sign? Imagine what it would be like to have a marvelous encounter with an angel, to watch your beloved wife grow with child, and not be able to speak. Finally, when John was born, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed. Words of praise poured from his heart and soul. He became filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy. In his prophecy, he spoke these words: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).

Let’s sit for a moment and meditate on Zacharias’ words, on the reality of Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and comes to earth to deliver messages, of tongues tied and loosed, of Jesus visiting us….to shine upon we who are in darkness, to guide us into the way of peace. “Holy, holy, holy” is all I can say right now. What are you thinking?

Lord Jesus, SUNRISE FROM ON HIGH, we smile in joy and praise of You, who came from heaven’s glory to visit us on earth. We praise You for the light You shine on us and for guiding us to the way of peace. We can’t wait to worship You in heaven! 

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Have you ever been without electricity and light for a significant period of time? In 2021 a winter storm in Texas caused our home to be without electricity for six days during which I experienced darkness to a greater degree than ever before. Sitting in the darkness, I thought of what unbelievers will experience in eternity; forever separated from the light of Christ, who the prophet Zacharias referred to as the “Dayspring from on high” (Luke 1:78).

What did Zacharias mean when he used the term “Dayspring from on high” in reference to Jesus?

No doubt, “Dayspring” refers to what we would expect – the light of day. Jesus, the Dayspring of heaven, brought heaven’s glorious light to our dark world. He brought it not only to our world at large, but to us individually when we turn to Him.

If you know someone who is not a believer, share with them that Jesus is the Dayspring from on High through whom they can have eternal light.

If you are struggling with darkness, if your thoughts are dark, if your perspective is dark, turn your face to the Dayspring from on High. Ask Him to rid you of any darkness, of any sin, and to fill you with His glorious presence, the Dayspring from on High.

Glorious DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH, shine the light of Your presence on us and in us. Show us sins we need to confess. Forgive us. Fill us with the Light of Your presence.

Darkness has a new meaning to me after we were without electricity for 6 days during the Texas winter storm. Thousands continue to struggle without power. They have no light except the flicker of a candle or flashlight. Even with those, you use them sparingly when you don’t know how long they will last. All that I went through in the winter storm took on new spiritual application. The fact that Christ broke through the darkness of sin and not in a small flicker of a way or a temporal moment, but rather in a burst of eternal light into our darkened souls is amazing. Zacharias prophesied in Luke 1:78 that Jesus would bring light to the world. He called Jesus the “dayspring from on high.” Listen to his words,  “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.”  Jesus, the Dayspring of heaven, visited earth and brought heaven’s glorious light to our dark world and souls. What kind of light? The light of His glory.  The light of His Holy Spirit shining in and warming our hearts. The light of His teachings showing us the path of truth. The light of His radiance purifying us of our sin. The light of His presence energizing us. If your soul is dark… If your thoughts are dark… If your perspective is dark…there is hope. Jesus can break through your darkness. His presence can eliminate the dark. You don’t have to keep struggling. Invite Him into your life, into your soul, into your mind, into your thoughts, into your heart. Ask Him to disperse the darkness and light you up with heaven’s glory. Ask Him to use His light to purge you of your sins. If anyone can bring light to you, it’s Jesus. I and millions others can testify to Him doing just that. Tag. You’re it. And in a glorious way. Say yes to Jesus, Heaven’s glory.

Glorious Light, Dayspring from on High, we confess that our world is dark and often our soul, mind, and thoughts are dark. They are dark without You. They are dark until You disperse the darkness with the light of Your presence. We ask You to disperse the darkness now. Shine the light of Your presence in us. Show us sin we need to confess. Cleanse us. Forgive us. Fill the hollow of our hearts with You. Teach us to walk by the Light of Your presence and the Light of Your Word.

Have you ever been tongue-tied; you couldn’t say what you wanted to say? The godly priest Zacharias had such an experience. Except he was literally unable to speak. It hadn’t always been that way. He had led a remarkably righteous life.  Then, one day, when he was performing his priestly service, he was chosen to burn incense in the temple. As the people prayed, he alone entered the temple. That’s when things changed. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and fear gripped him. The angel spoke wonderful news. His wife, who had not been able to get pregnant, was going to get pregnant. Most importantly, their child would be the forerunner to the long awaited Messiah.  Shocked at both the news that they were going to have a baby and that their child would hold such an esteemed position, Zacharias asked, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”* Gabriel told Zacharias that since he didn’t believe him, he wouldn’t be able to speak until John was born. How’s that for a sign? Imagine what it would be like to have a marvelous encounter with an angel, to watch your beloved wife grow with child, and not to be able to speak. Finally, when baby John was born, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed. What  words poured from his heart and soul?  “…Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78

Let’s sit for a moment and meditate on Zacharias’s words, on the reality of Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and comes to earth to deliver messages, of tongues tied and loosed, of Jesus visiting us….to shine upon we who are in darkness, to guide us into the way of peace. “Holy, holy, holy” is all I can say right now. What are you thinking?

LORD JESUS, SUNRISE from ON HIGH, we smile in joy and praise of You, who came from heaven’s glory to visit us on earth. We praise You for the light You shine on us and for guiding us to the way of peace. We can’t wait to worship You in heaven! 

LISTEN

As the sun rises in the east and brings light to the world, so, Zacharias prophesied in Luke 1:78 that Jesus would bring light to the world; calling Him the “dayspring from on high.” Listen to his words,  “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.”  Jesus, the Dayspring of heaven, visited earth and brought heaven’s glorious light to our dark world. What light? The light of His glory.  The light of His Holy Spirit enlightening our hearts. The light of His Words showing us the path of truth. The light of His radiance purifying us of our sin. The light of His presence energizing us. If you’re struggling with the darkness, ask the Dayspring from on high to rise and shine in your heart.

DAYSPRING from ON HIGH, we confess that in our world, the darkness can feel heavy. We confess we need Your light to purify us of our sin and to shine on the path we’re to go. Thank You.

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