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Hope Springs Forth
Throughout the year, we have continued to celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Upper Room daily Read More
Gift & Mazvita Machinga | Read Isaiah 11:1-10
In 735 BCE, Aram and Israel invaded Judah. Consequently, Judah became a state of Assyria but later revolted. The revolt was crushed, and King Hezekiah had to surrender. Just before Isaiah 11, God declares punishment on the people of Assyria: Assyria would be like a tree cut down at the...
Thank you, Lord, for creating something new from the stumps in my life. Help me to rest and be strengthened in you. Amen.
The scripture readings this week center on the anticipation for a righteous and just ruler, divinely appointed, who will bring prosperity, defend the afflicted, and crush oppression. The passages also touch upon the role of John the Baptist in heralding the coming of the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing repentance and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The broader context suggests a connection between the Hebrew Bible prophecies of a coming ruler and the arrival of John the Baptist. Additionally, there is an overarching call for repentance and the acknowledgment of God’s glory and marvelous deeds.
• Read Isaiah 11:1-10. Reflect on a time in your life when God brought transformation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
• Read Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19. Consider the ways you lead in your church or community. How can you better lead toward God’s righteousness, justice, and peace?
• Read Romans 15:4-13. Who needs to be welcomed and loved by you or your congregation? How have you closed doors to people seeking Jesus because of your judgment and unwelcoming environment?
• Read Matthew 3:1-12. What are you doing to make a clear pathway for Christ in your life?
Respond by posting a prayer.
