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Read: Isaiah 11:1-10
Listen: Isaiah 11

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1

Isaiah was a prophet during a dark time in Israel’s history. After David, a long line of kings brought evil and corruption to the nation. During Isaiah’s day, they are in exile, and all hope is lost. It appears David’s dynasty ended in ruin. Yet, Isaiah reassures the people of God’s promises. A new branch will grow from the line of Jesse, David’s father. The Messiah will still come. He will be the Messiah who restores everything to its rightful place. They will live with their forever king in eternal glory.

It is tempting to feel like the powers of darkness are winning in our world. Wars, political turmoil, disease and suffering can steal our confidence in God’s promises. But we can trust that God is faithful and good. When Jesus returns, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).” Christmas is only the beginning of the story of God’s presence among us. Jesus is the Son of David, who will return and reign as King forever. We can find hope this Christmas season because of the victory offered to us through the life and death of Jesus. The Christmas story points us to the reassurance that we will one day live in eternal glory with him.

TODAY: Make Jesus’s forever kingdom your priority this Christmas season. Visit adabible.info>SERVE>SERVE CHRISTMAS to sign up to serve at our Christmas services. When we serve others, we give them a glimpse of Jesus’s fully established kingdom, where everything will be made new.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Micah 5. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Focus on his birth in Bethlehem, fulfilled in Matthew 2:1-6.