Life Anchor

Isaiah 6:13 “And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
 
Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”
 
Luke 2:30-32, 34-35 “For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel…34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
 
THE terebinth and oak trees in Israel could be cut down to a stump, lifeless to the eye. But even from a stump, they would become alive with new shoots to again provide life-sustaining food and shelter.
   Isaiah is filled with such images of God’s judgment and salvation. The Spirit inspired the prophet to declare sin’s penalty and then mankind’s rise out of sin through God’s salvation. In their sin, Israel would look dead, apart from God. But then life would come from God’s holy seed, Jesus Christ, the shoot to rise from Jesse’s (David’s father) family.
   We see this prophecy of salvation also in Luke 2. This is Jesus’ circumcision. Simeon prophesies nations’ judgment. And then salvation through the boy in Mary’s arms. Salvation would cost the Savior and his mother. Hearts of sin would oppose Jesus, and even Mary’s soul would be pierced with grief.
   The opposition and grief would culminate in Jesus’ death. To the world, he would seem cut down, pierced on a deadly wooden cross. From the grave, though, the shoot from Jesse would rise to eternally shelter and comfort his own from sin’s storms.
   How is your faith today? Does it feel cut down, perhaps lifeless? Might we look at empty pews to declare, “The church is but a dead stump. There is no life here.” Could we be too willing to allow doubt and fear to pierce our minds?
   If so, we must stop and know this: The church is planted to be the Bride of Christ with his blood. Living Water nourishes our roots deep into Jesus’ resurrection. The Spirit strengthens hearts and minds to defend and serve the Branch raised to life. The Father’s love nurtures the church’s heart. The church is God’s Tree of Life to raise up a broken world to unite with our Creator. Each day you are the church, and each Sabbath you are to unite with others to produce life-giving fruit to feed a world lost in sin.
   Rejoice in God’s eternal promise that the you are nourished and rooted in the eternal Branch.
 
Prayer: Grow my roots deeply into you, Jesus. Empower my life to faithful fruit. Amen.