Advent Devotional: Make Room for JesusSample

Day 5: Making Room for Hope

The prophet Isaiah said that, while pagan nations would fall, God’s kingdom would grow. Nothing could stop hope from spreading. In the midst of evil and unrest, God’s plan was still at work and could not be thwarted. God promised His Spirit would fall on this promised one. He would look differently than the kings of the past. This “new shoot” would spring up and come to save the world.

"Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment." - Isaiah 11:1-5 (NLT)

The “new shoot” spoken of in this passage refers to a new branch or leaf budding on a fig tree. When Jesus later spoke to His disciples in a parable found in Luke 21:29-31, He referenced this same idea. He was illustrating to them the need to be watchful. Just as they would understand that new sprouts on a fig tree signified spring and new life, they were given hope that the future Kingdom of God would come soon. God’s rule would triumph and the Messiah would reign just as He said He would. They just needed to be ready.

Why is this important to focus on? Because when we get apathetic and let life happen, we can lose sight of the future promises of God. We can become consumed by the problems in front of us instead of trusting the bigger picture of what God is doing. Jesus said in Matthew 24: 44 we must be ready all the time. He calls us to watchfulness...not just letting life pass by. When we live life with an eternal mindset, it changes the things we place our hope in and the way we wait.

Reflect:

• What does it look like to be watchful when it comes to your spiritual life?
• How does it change the way you operate in your everyday life when you have an eternal mindset?

Pray:

Today pray this prayer…. “God help me to always be on the watch for what you are doing. I want to be constantly aware of the ways you are working so that I can help further your kingdom on earth. Then I can truly rest in the hope of one day experiencing eternity in Heaven with you.”