PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 11-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; a Branch will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1)
Our world is a mess: polarization, war, addiction, poverty, abuse, injustice, crime.
In this mess the Lord plants a tree – Israel – in the hope of reclaiming his garden.
But that tree is as messed up spiritually, morally, socially, like everyone else.
Despite serious pruning, the Lord eventually has to chop that tree down too.
But the Lord’s plan is not a failure, for out of the stump we see a shoot.
That shoot from the line of David (Jesse’s stump) is different.
It bears good fruit, and produces life, goodness, blessing, hope.
Of all humans ever, Jesus alone lives as a good tree, with good fruit.
I believe that Jesus is the key to restoring God’s garden paradise.
When violence and immorality will end, and everyone will live in peace.
As Jesus followers, we are invited to become branches in this tree.
By ourselves we cannot restore God’s garden paradise.
But if we remain in Jesus, like branches, we can bear good fruit (John 15:1-8).
We help Jesus restore God’s paradise by dong good with/like/for him!
PRAYER
Lord, you are working to make my life fruitful like yours. Help me to plant seeds of goodness, and not mess up your garden with more weeds.
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” Jesus has come and his roots are in the ‘stump of Jesse’ – and Jesus has made us right with God – God is my salvation. The hopeful pictures in Isaiah’s prophecy are encouraging – that one day Jesus will make all things right. Violence will end – oh I hope for that! There is so much injustice and persecution of faithful – oh I hope for an end to that! There is so much hunger and so many displaced people! Oh I hope for that to end! I will work for it and trust that it will come to an end! Hope in Jesus!
I am continuing my journey of joy since the joy of the Lord God is my strength and song. He is my salvation and He has made me glad. That good news I need to live everyday and I need to be an epistle that others can read seeing that God is in charge and I serve Him in words and deeds. Help me Lord to be a servant true.
Make me a servant
Humble and meek
Lord let me lift up
Those who are weak
And may the prayer
Of my heart always be
Make me a servant
Make me a servant
Make me a servant today