Light For The Year

by Pastor Mark
January 01, 2026

Entering 2026

Wishing all a Blessed and Happy New Year! As we enter 2026, we recognise that the year ahead may be filled with challenges, difficulties and distress. The darkness of the world continues to cloud the minds of many and its pervasiveness grows worse. Serious problems and unexpected adversities, such as job loss or sickness, may come our way. The shadow of death may become even more real. How do we face these troubling times ahead?

The light of the Lord must continue to shine upon us and permeate all aspects of our lives. Only the light of the Lord Jesus, our Dayspring, will help us overcome the darkness. What are some of my thoughts on the Lord’s light as we enter the new year?

1. Deliverance

“To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74–75)

  1. Zacharias recognised how God had delivered him and Israel.
  2. There was deliverance from both physical and spiritual enemies.
  3. God had delivered Zacharias from the pervasiveness of darkness.
  4. Light shone brightly in his heart through the filling of the Holy Spirit.
  5. In the same way, we should celebrate God’s deliverance in our lives.
  6. We thank God that He has delivered us from the darkness of sin, the world and Satan.
  7. Let us continue to look to His deliverance as we move ahead.

2. Dynamic response

  1. If we have been delivered, there must be a proper response…a dynamic response.
  2. This is the correct understanding of deliverance.
  3. God has delivered us to serve Him without fear.
  4. There should not be fear of uncertainty or failure.
  5. As Zacharias was deeply moved, his service was no longer perfunctory or ritualistic.
  6. Let us be challenged to serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness to the end of our days.

3. The Dayspring

a. Tender mercy of our God

“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;” (Luke 1:78)

We thank God for His tender mercy given to us. The word “tender” is not an adjective but a noun. “Tender” (splagchnon) means “compassion”. Both the compassion and mercy of the Lord are shown in the Dayspring visiting us. Let us depend on the Lord’s compassion and mercy in the midst of the darkness and problems of life.

b. The light that the Dayspring gives

“To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79)

The phrase “to give light” in Greek is where we get the English word “epiphany”. The Lord, as the Dayspring, came to reveal His light to all…to give us revelation and enlightenment. His light can dispel the darkness and the shadow of death. This word of light, hope and strength is most uplifting as we face the difficulties of life and even the reality of death. Let us continue to trust the light of our Lord to lead us as we face the challenges of 2026.

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