John the Baptist: His Purpose

According to Luke 1.79, his purpose was to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. When I read this in my devotions this morning, I read it as, and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace. I suppose the ESV's punctuation is the way that Zechariah intended his remarks to be taken, but I think that may way is equally as true.

We live, all of us do, in the shadow of death all the time. Who knows what the day will bring. Death lurks around constantly and often strikes when we do not expect it. So to say that John the Baptist's purpose was and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace, we speak truthfully, for that is exactly what he did.

May you realize that you live in the shadow of death and may John the Baptist's life and words still today guide your feet into the way of peace—at the foot of the cross.