Home  Devotionals Friday, December 11, 2009
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The Branch From Jesse 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 the knowledge and fear of the LORD — and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1-3 Over 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah foretold of the coming of our Lord. This prophecy was a gift from God.
In reading this prophecy from Isaiah, I am mindful of another gift, which is the great plan that God has for me with the birth, death and resurrection of the Messiah, a plan that calls for me to be Holy, and set apart, for my ultimate salvation even though I am sinful and undeserving. This prophecy reminds me of how thankful I am for the steadfastness God exemplified in fulfilling the prophecy some 700 years later. It is awe inspiring to know that Isaiah received this gift of prophecy, but even more awe inspiring to know of God’s plan for me and the love he has shown me in offering his Son as a sacrifice for my salvation. Christmas is only the beginning of the redemptive process in that it marks the incarnation of the Messiah. From there I know I must believe in Jesus as my Savior and accept the gift embodied in His message of love, kindness and compassion into my heart. If I do, I will have the opportunity to spend all of eternity with God living in peace and love forever. I praise God for the greatest Christmas gift of all time. Curt Dowd |
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