Dusk Til Dawn: The Dawn — Wednesday
Isaiah 11:1
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. (NLT)
The story of an outcast from a bad school, a bad part of town, or a bad city is the premise of many Disney and Hallmark movies. It’s a trope with ingrained significance, as it evokes empathy for the underdog.
Nazareth was a place that was looked down upon, a place that brought about a surprised response if anything positive came from it (John 1:46, NLT). David’s family line had fallen away from the Lord (hence the stump in Isaiah 11:1), and the Messiah was promised to be hated and despised (Isaiah 53:3). Talk about a rough underdog story.
Jesus fulfills a challenging promise to David’s heritage. He’s jumping into the middle of dysfunction and disbelief right at His own birth. It’s no accident, though. We all know Jesus had a humble birth and life overall, but it was all very intentional. First, what better way to reach the lost and broken than to be born amongst them? But also, as He performed His restorative work, He was in the midst of the struggles we face every single day. He wasn’t removed from our hardships; He chose the most vulnerable way to face them Himself!
It brings me reassurance that when I pray about temptation, tendencies, and weaknesses, God isn’t looking at me dumbfounded. Rather, He has first-hand experience and empathy for the issues I have, and has tangible answers to the questions that come from that place of brokenness.
Wednesday’s Reflection
If you’re like me, you’ve had a season where you’ve thought or prayed, I wish I could do something different, move in a different direction, or be more effective for Christ. That’s the same idea as a branch bearing fruit. Pray the rest of the week for God to reveal the fruit He’s developing in your life, and ask for that good work to continue in your life.
