Dayspring

Have you noticed how much darker the days seem at this time of the year? (At least in the northern hemisphere!) Even with daylight savings time here on the west coast, which is supposed to give us the most hours of daylight, I find myself waiting longer for the sunrise each morning!

As I was reading through this chapter in Luke, I noticed the word “dayspring” referring to Christ’s coming to bring light into the darkness. People were - sitting in spiritual darkness and in the constant shadow of death before Jesus was born! Jesus’ “visit” actually brought the dawn of a new peace and hope!

Just as sunrise dispels the heaviness of night, Jesus brought relief from sin and despair, spiritual blindness and distress.

Jesus as the Dayspring is found in the 4th verse of the Christmas carol, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”:

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

Jesus, you are my Dayspring and Emmanuel! Thank you for coming to Israel long ago, and for coming into my life! I want to rejoice today in the fact that you are with me, and will dispel any darkness that I feel, in your powerful name. Amen.

For Today: Have you allowed the Dayspring of God to deal with the gloomy clouds and dark shadows that you experience? Emmanuel, which means “God with us” came to bring sunrise to the darkness, freedom from spiritual slavery and a dawning of hope for the future. Ask Emmanuel to come into your life this Christmas season, if you haven’t already!