The Miracle of New Growth
This scripture shares the important truth that new growth is coming. What is unique is the growth isn’t coming from a vibrant tree, but from a stump! A stump is the remains of something that once was vibrant and full of life, but is now seemingly dead.
But what appears to be dead is instead going to produce a “tender shoot,” meaning a young, new growth, and out of that new growth the branch will bear fruit.
For Christians, this verse is talking about the coming Messiah, Jesus, who will come from the family line of Jesse. A family that seemingly was done and cut off to just the stump. Yet, he came as a “tender shoot,” as a baby in a manger, and lived a life to bear fruit for his father and ultimately pay the sacrifice for all our sins on the cross.
This verse also points to an important application for us—that God can take things that look dead in our life and cause new growth to appear. Even when it all seems done and dead, the miracle of growth is always possible.
New Life Through God’s Love
Throughout Scripture, we see God’s love reflected everywhere. He provides, protects, and guides with an abundance of love. God is love, and we are called to share His love by leading with love in our interactions with others. (1 John 4:16)
John 3:16 shares the key message of the Gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loved us so much that he gave His only Son to give us new life in Him.
God’s love doesn’t just provide, protect, and guide. His love transforms. His love restores. His love gives us a new future. Today, remember that because of God’s love for you, you have new life in Him.