#DailyDevotion Bless The Lord, O My Soul And All That Is Within Me
January 1st
Read Luke 1:57–80
Luk 1:68-79 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people (69) and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, (70) as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, (71) that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; (72) to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, (73) the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us (74) that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, (75) in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (76) And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, (77) to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, (78) because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high (79) to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
What a great way to start off the New Year, giving blessing to God. On this day we celebrate the Christ child submitting himself to the Law and shedding his first drops of blood for our salvation. And that is what Zechariah is singing about. This horn of salvation has come to us through the house of David as the Lord had foretold. God keeps his promises. He may take longer than we like but he always performs what he says he is going to do.
The glory of God is his mercy. In his great mercy he has saved us from our enemies, sin, death and the power of the devil through the obedience of the God-Man Jesus. His life, obedience, suffering, death and resurrection are our salvation and our peace with God. Having delivered us from our enemies we can now serve God without fear—fear of punishment. God overlooks our sins through the blood shed by his Son who shed his blood for us this day. Through faith in his blood we serve God now in holiness and righteousness (which means through faith in Christ).
God sent John to proclaim the messiah and prepare his way. God sends pastors and his people to do the same today. Our mission is the same as John’s, to give knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of our sins. Knowledge that our old foes death and Satan no longer have any hold on us, they are defeated on the cross of Christ. The forgiveness of our sins gives us this knowledge of God’s great mercy towards you. His tender mercies are new every morning. They give us the true light of God which is Jesus. Many don’t like the light Jesus gives. It means they can no longer live selfish, self-centered lives. Jesus’ light brings in the community of his body lives not for himself but for all. Those who don’t believe think this is bondage but it where true freedom lies.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your obedience and the shedding of your blood that we may know the mercies of God, the forgiveness of sins and the salvation from our enemies. Keep us in this faith always. Amen.