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MERRY MONDAY BY PARRIS-

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot–yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root” Is.11:1
Most people that have done anything in this world came from just a “little suckler”. Meaning, most likely, they were insignificant, looked over, and not expected to do much. If you take the story of David when he was anointed by Samuel, he too was looked over and Samuel had to be nudged by God to even take notice. Christ came at a time of humiliation and obscurity for Israel and the Jewish nation. This lowly shoot will bear much fruit. Let’s look inside the miracle of the sprout in this Advent Season. The invisible root around us echoes the message of hope in the dead things.

Spurgeon even compares our Christianity as a wee little shoot when he preaches this message; “Christianity in our own hearts—the Christ within us—is also a “tender plant.” In its springing up it is as the green blade of corn which any beast that goes by may tread upon or devour. Oftentimes, to our apprehension it has seemed that our spiritual life would soon die; it was no better than a lily with a stalk bruised, and all but snapped in two; the mower’s scythe of temptation has cut down the outgrowth of our spiritual life, but, blessed be God, He who comes down like rain upon the mown grass has restored our verdure, and maintained our vigor to this day! Tender as our religion is, it is beyond the power of Satan to destroy it; weak as we are, we have not utterly fallen, nor shall we, for the feeble shall be victorious, and the “Lame shall take the prey.” Though grace is often like the hyssop for its weakness, it is ever as the oak for endurance; man threatens to crush the church, or hopes to uproot true grace from the heart of the timid believers, but it shall not be done—the “tender plant” shall become a goodly cedar, and the weakness of God shall baffle the power of man!”

Never underestimate the power of the cross. The birth of Christ paints a beautiful picture of a tender sprout shooting up to take over the hearts of men. In the third grade at a Christmas gift exchange in school, a student gave me “The religious Christmas” book. Every year I would as a wee little stump read over the stories of Christmas with its beautiful paintings and Christmas songs. If you told me back then what I would be doing today there would be no comprehension of it in my mind. “There will grow a shoot from the root of Jesse”. God makes the ordinary-unordinary. He visits children and adults worldwide bringing hope for the hopeless. Does Christ see you sick this Advent season? He can touch the heated brow. Does lack dress your table this year? He can bring cheer.

Where there was once a stump, Christ can bring new life! It is what he does best!