11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

Have you ever seen a tree that has been cut down and it appears to still have life in it? Along the sides of the stump you will see shoots that start growing. It appears to still have life in the stump.

This is the analogy the Prophet Isaiah uses to show that out of a stump, Judah, the shoot reflects that the Messiah will come. Even though the stump appears to be dead, life will come from it.

I see this analogy can be used for us as men. God has to literally cut us down to leave only a stump that is the only evidence that we once lived. From our stump, if we ask Jesus to be our Savior, a shoot of life will appear.

Like Jesus, the Spirit can rest on us. We too can be empowered by the Holy Spirit. New life in us can once again grow. Out of the brokenness, a new man appears.

We all have our brokenness. Like Israel, we need a Savior to lead us. As we begin this Christmas Season, let’s continue to remember the ‘Reason for the Season’. It is all about Jesus. He came once, and he is coming again.

Strength and Courage

Michael