(NASB) Luke 1:78-79 “Because of the tender mercy of God,
With which the sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Because of God’s tender mercy, He sent His only begotten Son into the world so whoever would believe in Him would have life everlasting.                            (See John 3:16)

The Son of God is the Sunrise from above; He came from heaven to visit us.  He guides our feet into the way of peace.  Peace with God can only come through God’s Son.
Jesus came to visit us.  I have not always shown the Lord Jesus Christ true hospitality, have you?

In the Past
I have sat in darkness – with no understanding of Who God really is.  I have lived far from God, my choices have not honored Him – I was sitting in darkness.
Head knowledge did not transfer into a commitment of trust in God or belief in Jesus as my Savior.
I have lived in the shadow of death with no hope for the light of God in eternity.  Without knowing it, I had no hope to be in God’s presence in eternity – the forever “day”.

Now and In the Future
The Son of God has now shone into my darkness – where there was once no understanding (even though I had been baptized and was an active church member)
I now know God and gaining more insight into His words and character as I read His word.  I have received Jesus Christ as my Savior.
The light of Christ is giving me illumination, understanding concerning death and the hope I have for eternity – I can know I will live in God’s light for eternity.

I can know this because God has said so in His word – the Holy Bible.  His word is truth and fully trustworthy.
[Those who do not trust God’s words (all of them) to be true have no assurance and therefore no real hope.]

God’s tender mercy sent Jesus, He was promised through the prophets in the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets).  Jesus the Christ was promised through Zacharias the priest, the father of John the Baptist in Luke 1:67-75.

To what are you paying attention; whom do you believe?
Are you “listening” to God through His words or to what people say and write, or to what you want God to be and not Who He really is as expressed in His word?
Do you compare what you hear with God’s true word?