Heaven's Royal Visitor

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,

Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
[Lk 1:68-69; 78-79 NKJV]

How many visitors are you expecting this holiday season? You tend a flurry of details as you prepare. You fluff and fix and fuss as you anxiously await their arrival.

The world has known the most grand and majestic of all visitors. A royal dignitary of highest honor. The world knew of His coming. And yet it welcomed Him in a dark, smelly cave that penned cattle. Not the most hospitable welcome we could afford. I believe Zechariah and Elizabeth's son, John, was born into a more comfortable setting than God's own Son.

At the birth of his son, Zechariah sang prophetically in praise of God. He celebrated God's redemption and extended a welcome of praise for the descendant of the most prized king of Israel. He had readied a welcome for this visitor long before He even arrived. A lesson well-learned from this elderly priest that the world not repeat it's grave error.

Zechariah's silence broken, he realized fully that God had remained ever mindful of His children and remembered His words of promise. God visited as His people sat in darkness. In His tender mercy He brought salvation. He brought light to the eyes to see hope and light for our feet to guide through the valley.

Welcome the Visitor of Christmas. Celebrate the redemption He brings with praise. Ready for His next visit.

Incarnate God; Blessed are you Lord and blessed are we for You have visited us with salvation. Shining light in the darkness and in this valley of the shadow of death. Guide us in the way of peace. Kindle our hearts to extend a warm welcome of heaven's Royal Visitor.