Read Luke 1:59-80
"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78,79).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
How do you feel about light and darkness? Are you afraid of the darkness? Or how about this: Are you every afraid of the light?
As a kid, I grew up in a pretty dysfunctional family. My father was an alcoholic who was away from home a lot doing construction work. When he came home, especially in later years during my late-childhood, early-teen years, he was given more and more to drinking bouts and anger. From an early age, generally unhappy situations caused by his drinking caused me to sometimes hate and fear darkness. At the same time, there were situations when I found darkness something comfortable and useful as a place to hide.
So when the Scriptures make frequent use of the terms "darkness" to represent sin and despair and "light" to represent forgiveness and the joy of God's presence -- I understand it. I also wonder whether life is really that simple. You've heard the old cliche about something being clear-cut "black and white."
Human behavior is never as simple as black and white, light and darkness, is it?
Yet God's reality is a very simple "kingdom of light" contrasted with a "kingdom of darkness." It is in Christ that we find the light which will cast away the darkness of sin and bring us, through God's "tender mercy" that comes to us in Christ we have our eyes opened to God's presence in our daily lives. Even in the midst of those dark times, when we don't feel God's presence and fret about not getting his help, he really is there.
So no matter how dark things may be for you today, open your eyes and see God's light in your darkness!
