Devotionals

This week we are looking at two passages about the coming Messiah, one in the Old Testament and one in the New to explore the theme this week of Hearts Changing.  As you come to the Advent Season this year, where do you find yourself?  Excited, Happy, Expectant, Ambivalent, Sad, Stressed???  As we go through the week, allow the passages that we are exploring speak to you and come with an expectant heart that God will continue to do a work in your life.  Both passages contain the metaphor of a root, indicating God is causing something to grow.  Prior to the third chapter in Matthew, Matthew covers the genealogy of Jesus, proving He is the rightful King of Israel through the line of David.  Allow the King Jesus to rule in your life this Advent Season and see what grows!

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  Read over both passages reading Isaiah first.  What stands out to you?  Read over both passages again, this time read the passage from Matthew first.  How are they similar?  How are they different?  Pray that God will use these passages to open your heart to new possibilities this Christmas season.  

Isaiah 11:1-5 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord- and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.  He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.  Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Five verses that are packed with information regarding the coming Messiah.  He will be from the root of Jesse, therefore, from the line of King David.  He will be full of the Spirit having the “Fear of the Lord”.  He will judge with righteousness; He will use the breath of His mouth and slay the wicked. These are inspiring words for me.  

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  What does it mean to have the “Fear of the Lord”?  Read Proverbs 9:10 and 14:27.  This particular verse highlights how powerful His words are.  Read Proverbs 25:11.  What does this verse say about words?  Think about your words relative to this passage and in the context of “The Fear of the Lord”.  Is there a way you can more fully honor God in this aspect of your life?

Isaiah 11:6-12  The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.  They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.  In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.  He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

The imagery of animals getting along peacefully is striking.  Isaiah is describing a world without conflict.  A world that understands God and has the fear of the Lord.  Verse 9 is especially striking –they will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain and the fear of the Lord will cover the entire earth.  This is a reminder that as we are living our daily lives on earth, God has a plan and nothing will stop its ultimate fulfillment.  We know how the story ends, giving us hope!  We can live our lives free of worry from the death and destruction that is commonplace in our world.

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  What would it look like for the entire Earth to be covered with the Fear of the Lord?  What would it look like for your entire life, all aspects, to be covered with the Fear of the Lord?  How might this impact your perspective/feelings on a daily basis?  Pray today that you allow the Fear of the Lord to Change Your Heart as you see others and relate to them.

Matthew 3:1-6 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:  “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey.  People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

As we turn from the image of the Messiah in Isaiah, we turn to the description of John the Baptist.  In the scriptures, we learn that John the Baptist came to provide a baptism of Repentance, whereas Jesus comes baptizing in the Spirit.  Repent - What do we need to repent for?  The last verse tells us that people were coming, confessing their sins and being baptized.  While Jesus always allows us to come to Him “as we are” – there aren’t rules to accepting Christ (see Romans 10:9), we soon recognize in His presence that we are not worthy and become convicted of our sin and the need for a Savior.

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  Read Proverbs 28:13.  Is there unconfessed sin in your life?  Read Psalm 139:23-24.  Take some time for the Lord to identify “an offensive way” and/or anxious thoughts.  Once the Holy Spirit convicts your heart, pray to the Lord to forgive your sin and to renew your heart and spirit.

Matthew 3:7-10  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:  “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’  I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  

The imagery of verses 7-10 of axes and roots compares to the verses in Isaiah where the Messiah comes from the root of Jesse. Throughout the Bible, there is an imagery of trees and fruit.  A good tree produces fruit abundantly; a bad tree doesn’t produce any.  When Jesus was with his disciples and came across a fig tree that was full of leaves and looking good but had no fruit, he cursed the tree and it withered – see Mark 11:12-25.  God uses us and wants us to bear fruit!

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  What kind of spiritual fruit is present in your life?  Do you share this fruit with others?  Like a good tree needs the right elements to thrive and grow (good soil, moisture, sun and nutrients), we need to practice those things that help us grow and bear fruit.  What are some of the things that help us produce abundant, good fruit?

Matthew 3:11-12  “I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Water for repentance - the Spirit for life.  Confess with your lips that He is Lord and you will be saved!  The theme for this week is Changing Hearts and I asked a question on how you are feeling during this Advent Season.  As believers in Christ, we are called to reflect the hope that we have in Christ and bear fruit!  Our walk isn’t meant to be perfect – it is meant to be fruitful, always remembering and sharing the hope we have in Christ!

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  Read Galatians 5:22-23.  What fruit of the Spirit is present in your life?  How can you cultivate your proverbial tree to be more fruitful?