It Was All God’s Doing

“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 direct our feet in the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79

It was all God’s doing.

I find that easy to forget after many years as a Christian—my heart grows dull in this world. But these words of Luke remind me of God’s tender love toward sinners as He stooped low to rescue us. And he did it for our good. We didn’t, couldn’t, rescue ourselves.

Recently, I mentioned to an unbelieving friend that I had prayed for a fairly minor situation he was experiencing.

He responded, “You didn’t bother God with that did you?”

What my friend doesn’t understand is just how much God does care about our little things. He is not a God of distant heights looking down in contempt as he searches for worthy contestants to call heavenward.

No, the true and living God, who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, cares for His creatures—you and I. He is intimately involved in our lives whether we realize it or not.

We fallen creatures sit in a land of deep darkness unbeknownst to ourselves; and the foreboding shadow of eternal death lurks near each one of us.

But our God cares so much, He offers to rescue us by His Light—the Light of the World. Jesus Christ—who, bowing low, gave up heaven’s glory to become a man and walk in the dust of the earth—visited us 2,000 years ago as an act of divine mercy.

Why? To direct our feet, which fumbled in darkness leading us toward a fiery abyss, into the way of peace—eternal life in the glorious presence of our God.

Our salvation was all God’s doing and is rooted in the deep, deep love our Savior has toward you, toward me. (For God so loved the world…). O, blessed Savior!

Do you know the Sunrise from on high? His name is Jesus.

If you do know Him, may His mercy be strength and encouragement to us today as we remember the darkness we were rescued from, and reflect on the hope that awaits us. Rejoice, dear reader, with “inexpressible joy and full of glory, receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8b-9)

If you don’t know Him and find yourself sitting in darkness—the fear of death haunting you, the heavy burden of guilt and shame bearing down upon you—consider this His call to you. May the Lord draw you to Himself by His love and give you the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

Take Up and Read

Luke Ch. 1-2