The Candle of Hope
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024
Bible Verse:
“But a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.”
– Isaiah 11:1 (EHV)
Devotion:
Imagine you’re walking through the woods, and you spot a tree stump. It looks dead, like its tree days are long gone. But wait! Out of the middle, there’s a little green sprout poking up, like it’s saying, “Hey, I’m not done yet!” That’s what Isaiah was talking about when he shared this verse. He wasn’t just talking about trees—he was talking about hope.
God’s people were feeling like a bunch of stumps. They’d messed up big time—turning away from God, making bad choices, and losing sight of His promises. Things looked pretty bleak, but God had a surprise plan. From the “stump” of Jesse’s family (King David’s great-great-grandpa), a Savior would come. That Savior is Jesus! He’s the green sprout growing up to bring new life, hope, and joy to everyone. So next time you feel like a tree stump (maybe you’ve had a rough day or made a mistake), remember: God’s not done with you. Just like the little green shoot, hope is always growing when Jesus is in the picture.
Questions:
Who is Jesse, and why is his family important?
What does the green shoot from the stump remind us about God’s promises?
How does Jesus give us hope when we’re having a hard time?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank You for being our hope, even when life feels tough. Help us to remember that You always keep Your promises. Show us how to share Your hope with others during this Advent season. Amen.
Activity Idea:
Make your own “stump of Jesse”! Draw or craft a tree stump out of paper or cardboard. Then cut out a green shoot (or a small branch from a real tree) to tape or glue to the stump. Talk with your family about how Jesus is our hope that keeps growing!
Full Bible Reference:
“A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will be delighted with the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he render decisions based on what he hears with his ears, but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and he will render fair decisions in favor of the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his hips. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together, and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the cattle. The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole, and the weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. This is what will happen on that day: The peoples will seek the Root of Jesse, who will be standing like a banner for the peoples. His resting place will be glorious.”
– Isaiah 11:1-10 (EHV)