Devotionals

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.

Today, is day sixteen of our journey and our symbol is the Crown.

The word Crown is found over seventy-five times in Scripture. In the Old Testament, a crown is used as a symbol of joy, honor, wisdom, a virtuous woman, and righteousness, as well as royalty. In the New Testament, a crown is used as a symbol of victory, ruling power, spiritual authority, rewards, as well as mockery [the crown of thorns].

In biblical times, it was unusual for a woman to wear a royal crown or posses power, but in our lesson today we meet a woman with both: Queen Esther, a descendent of Jesse, who rises in unexpected success to save her people while they are far from home [Israel] exiled in Susa, Persia. Queen Esther’s crown reminds us that sometimes God picks people to serve in His work who do not “fit” social or religious norms. Sometimes God uses the weak to shame the strong; He is sovereign.

In our passage, Mordecai, a Jew and government official to the King, convinces his cousin, Queen Esther [a young Jewish woman] to ask the King for a favor. She is hesitant to do so, until Mordecai says, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” At that moment, courage spoke louder than fear and Queen Esther approached the King without being summoned.

Queen Esther asked the King to reverse the edict Haman tricked him into putting into place; a plan to kill the Jews. But, because the King was considered a god by many, the edict could not be changed. So, the King allowed Mordecai, the privilege of writing another edict that would help right a wrong. The Jews would be allowed to defend their lives and loved ones if anyone first attacked them on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month—the day set for their destruction. The Jews rejoiced and celebrated, because Hope had come.

Racial hatred is sinful and we must always take a stand against it. Every person, whether they believe it or not, has been made in the image of our God; therefore, every person has worth and value. A spirit of genocide is evil. Christ would take issue with racial hatred and we must take a stand against it, as well. Fear tries to keep the righteous silent, but we need to place our confidence in God’s promise to be our righteous and victorious crowned King.

Esther 4:9-17 NLT
9 So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecai’s message.
10 Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” 12 So Hathach gave Esther’s message to Mordecai.

13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Esther 8:4-11, 16a NLT
5 Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. 6 For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?”

7 Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews. 8 Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”

9 So on June 25[a] the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.[b] The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews. 10 The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service.

11 The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson from Queen Esther. Help us to be bold and courageous for righteousness; to take a stand with you. You have called us a royal priesthood; may crowns of rewards await your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day fifteen of our journey and our symbol is the Staff.

We don’t hear much about a shepherd’s Staff or rod being used in our present culture, but the word is used frequently in Scripture. A staff is a long, slender stick with a hook at one end. A shepherd typically used a staff in one of three obvious ways: 1) to gather sheep together, 2) to grab or guard a lamb for protection, closer inspection, or needed care, and 3) to guide the sheep safely forward to the next destination or to stop them from wandering.

In the Old Testament, the term ‘shepherd’ refers to not only a person who uses a Staff to tend sheep, but also refers to national leaders holding the Staff or rod of power. These leaders were appointed to gather the people of their nation in worship of the Lord, to guard the people from danger, care for their needs and comfort them, as well as guide the people into secure places by modeling obedience to the commands of God. According to the prophet Samuel, the nation of Israel was in need of a new king, because God had rejected king Saul for failing to be an obedient shepherd. So, Samuel was sent by God to find and anoint the next king for Israel; a leader who would allow God to shepherd him.

In our passage from 1 Samuel, after meeting seven likely leadership candidates for Israel, we are introduced to Jesse’s youngest son, David—a shepherd boy who faithfully tends his father’s flock of sheep and goats. David is the youngest and most unexpected candidate. In fact, we know he is not even considered a possible candidate, because Jesse leaves him out in the field caring for the flocks of animals when Samuel arrives. Yet, God knows the heart of every person and David is a man after God’s heart, so David is anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit and will one day be made king; he will use a Staff of power to love and shepherd God’s people.

Even though king David struggled with sin, he loved and served God and His people well. However, the kings in David’s lineage who followed him, were rarely loving shepherds of God’s people who gathered them in worship, guarded them from evil, or guided them according to God’s commands. Again, in God’s appointed time, He sent the only Holy One filled with the Spirit to hold the Staff and be the forever Shepherd. The Staff reminds us of our Shepherd, Jesus.

As we celebrate this advent season, let’s remember the shepherds—in the field guarding their flocks—were the first to receive the announcement of the Good News and the arrival of King Jesus. He was born to hold the Staff of power and to perfectly shepherd God’s people—to gather, guard, and guide believers by faith toward Kingdom Living in the grace of God. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, because He sacrificially loves the people who put their faith in Him. May we let the joy of having King Jesus as our eternal Shepherd rise up in us, today, and may we not be afraid of the Staff He uses to keep us from wandering!

1 Samuel 16:1, 10-13 Samuel Anoints David as King
1Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
10 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.
Isaiah 40:11 NLT He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
    He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
    He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Ezekiel 37:24 NLT  “My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees.”

John 10:11-16 11 NLT “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

1 Peter 2:25 NLT 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

Revelation 7:17 NLT For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our Good Shepherd; for using your Staff in gathering your children out of the world, guarding us from being destroyed by evil, and for guiding and keeping us true to your commands of love. Eternity awaits us, so continue to lead us by your power into the joy of our salvation found only under your rule. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.

Today, is day fourteen of our journey and our symbol is the Stump.

I enjoy outdoor flowering trees and plants. God must enjoy them too, because He created seed-bearing plants and trees with seed-bearing fruit on the third day and saw it was good! Colorful trees and plants add so much to the beauty of God’s world. Most of the time, I am successful in providing an environment for the plants around our home to thrive. Yet, some places in the yard are just not conducive in providing the needed oxygen, water, or soil nutrients to the roots of plants.

If a plant does not look good at the surface level, I know there is a problem at the root level. The root system is the cornerstone of plant function and occupies more space than the plant it grows and supports. Taproot systems are those with many smaller roots branching off a single, main root. Diffuse or fibrous root systems [absent of a taproot] are made up of many thin roots which draw from even thinner and smaller roots. Certainly, both of these root systems are a part of physical plant growth, but also share a spiritual lesson for God’s created fruit-being family.

In our lesson today from the prophet Isaiah, Israel’s spiritual roots are being dominated and corrupted by diffuse sin; the spiritual soil is inadequate and faithfulness to God is lacking. Therefore, these unrighteous roots grow in all directions and begin to anchor themselves to the world; Israel cannot produce the righteous fruit God intended for His family. Unhealthy spiritual roots lead to unhealthy and fruitless lives. Israel’s sinful choice to turn from God caused their family tree to be cut down; their diffused roots took them all over the world.

Only a remnant of God’s covenant people stay anchored to the taproot of His love by allowing the roots of righteousness to spiritually sustain their lives. A once spiritually great nation was brought down to a religious Stump. Yet, our God is so faithful and Isaiah reminds us of the Truth; God made a Way. God had already planned for a Righteous Branch of Life to grow from this Stump of Jesse’s family; a Tree of Life to form a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy without end. God is the only one who can grow life from dead things and He does that through a small Righteous Branch who unexpectedly comes in the form of a baby and grows into the Savior who dies on the tree for the world—Jesus.

Isaiah 11:1 NLT A Branch from David’s Line
1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch [from Jesse] bearing fruit from the old root.

Jeremiah 23:5 NLT
5
“For the time is coming,”
says the Lord,
“when I will raise up a righteous descendant
from King David’s line.
He will be a King who rules with wisdom.
He will do what is just and right throughout the land.

Romans 15:4-13 NLT 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:

“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.”
10 And in another place it is written,
“Rejoice with his people,
you Gentiles.”
11 And yet again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
12 And in another place Isaiah said,
“The heir to David’s throne [root of Jesse] will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him.”

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us understand the Righteous Branch of Life as it connects to the Stump of Jesse, David’s father. Jesus is our Taproot and Cornerstone, so Holy Spirit please keep us connected and thriving. Restore and revive our spiritual system of roots with your holiness and power so our lives bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day thirteen of our journey and our symbol is Grain.

Although I know some folks who refuse to eat leftovers, I struggle throwing food away. I, unapologetically, serve leftovers up the next day. Granted the food might have tasted the best when it was first made, but it still provides nutrition for our physical bodies. Food is fuel to keep us functioning, so when we have food and leftovers, we should be grateful to God because, for a variety of reasons, there are people in our world who struggle to survive and beg for mere scraps. My father instilled that thought into our heads as we were growing up; he lived through the depression and it dramatically changed his thinking and way of living.

In our lesson today, we meet Ruth, a widow, who goes out into the fields and picks up what the harvesters have left behind; leftovers. It is certainly not the best grain; she and her mother-in-law, Naomi, are surviving on the trampled down and left behind grain. But God uses the hope of something better within Ruth, her kindness revealed in her care of her mother-in-law, and works with the scraps of grain she collects to bring multiplied provision and comfort. Grain is symbolic of God’s strength—the faith-driven people’s fuel for living.

God takes small spiritual pieces—scraps of faith—and blesses people. He works powerfully to provide faith, hope, and love for us as He leads us into the shalom of His spiritual plenty. He is our Husband in faith; the Provider who cares deeply for our comfort. Ruth did not know it when she was faithfully looking for grain in the field of a stranger—a relative she had never met—but God positioned her to glean grain at the precise time when the Israelite owner Boaz came to inspect his field. If Ruth wasn’t in lack, she would have never met Boaz. Boaz became Ruth’s husband. They became the great-grandparents of King David, and the ancestors of Jesus.

Ruth 2:2-3, 8-12 NLT 2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” 3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”

10 Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”
11 “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

Ruth 4:13-17 NLT The Descendants of Boaz
13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”
16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

Matthew 1:1-5 NLT The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
2 
Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
3 
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.
4 
Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
5 
Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the Resourceful One we need. Please help us to remember to appreciate all the small things you leave as blessings, today, knowing our attitude and kindness is always noticed by you. You always start with a seed of faith and work from there to provide for our lives. Thank you for your lesson from Ruth’s life. Sometimes our faith dwindles to scraps, but you are faithful to use your strength and grace to bring us new beginnings and a great future. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day twelve of our journey and our symbol is the Horn.

Last week, I had the honor of officiating a celebration of life service for a retired military veteran and hero who spent his life serving others. At the conclusion of the celebration, two uniformed honor guard service members folded the U.S. burial flag and presented it to the family, followed by a gun salute, and the blowing of taps on the horn. I cried through the whole thing, because victory for this loved one had arrived—the end of the battle day on earth as he entered the Promised Land of eternal rest.

It may be hard for us to understand, but God tends to use unexpected people to enter into his unexpected plan for salvation—bringing deliverance from evil to His human creation. We see this time and time again throughout Scripture. For example, does it make any sense to our natural minds for the Israelites to wander through the wilderness for 40 years [a period of transition and/or judgment] when distance-wise it was really an 11 day trip? Not really, but God was taking Israel to a place where He could reveal His nature and character as their sovereign God; a place to teach them He could be trusted, as well as their proper response to His rule [government].

As the Israelites prepare to leave the wilderness and head into the Promised Land, Joshua sends spies into Jericho to connect with a lying gentile prostitute who will display and let down a scarlet rope from the window in her house that will protect her and the entire family abiding within when the horn blows. Unexpected? The walls of Jericho do fall according to God’s marching orders, but as a result of the prostitute’s faith, she and her family are spared death when the horn blows. That prostitute is Rahab, the great-grandmother of Jesus. Unexpected?

The cord is pretty easy to recognize as a symbol, because it reminds us of the blood of the lamb on the doorpost of the Israelites’ houses while in Egypt when the death angel passes over [Passover]. Everyone’s house marked with the blood was saved from death. But, what is with the horn? The Horn symbol reminds us of God’s power and protection to bring victory—crumbling the walls of sin—when, by faith, we obey God’s commands. Jesus offers us the same power and protection when we place our faith in His work on the cross where He shed His blood. If we love Jesus, welcome His blood to cover us, and are marked with the Spirit, we will obey His commands and step into spiritual victory.

Joshua 2:1-21 NLT Rahab Protects the Spies
1 Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.
2 But someone told the king of Jericho, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab: “Bring out the men who have come into your house, for they have come here to spy out the whole land.”

4 Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them.” 6 (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) 7 So the king’s men went looking for the spies along the road leading to the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. And as soon as the king’s men had left, the gate of Jericho was shut.

8 Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. 9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed [complete consecration of things/people to the Lord]. 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.
12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

14 “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.”

15 Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. 16 “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.”

17 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.”

21 “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

Joshua 6:15-17, 20, 25 NLT
15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town! 17 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed [complete consecration of things/people to the Lord] as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.

20 When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.

25 So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Hebrews 11:30-31 NLT 30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. 31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our victory in Christ Jesus; now we can enjoy divine fellowship and be spared judgment. On the day of your second coming, the horn will blow again, so we are grateful for the blood of Jesus to protect us from destruction. We would rather you deal with our sin right now than at the return of Christ. Be glorified in the work only you can do in us, Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, Pastor Mary has chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.

Today is day eleven of our journey and our symbol is The Ten Commandments.

As a kid I used to think that some of my parent’s “house rules” were just ridiculous. Then I became a parent and our “house rules” seemed to almost mirror image the rules that I once followed as a kid in my parent’s house.

Now, when I think about God giving Moses the Ten Commandments, it is almost as if God was passing on the “House rules” for His Family, Israel, through Moses. The Commandments were a conditional covenant, like a set of God’s “House rules” for humanity’s relationship with Him and with others. When Moses takes the instructions and regulations of the Ten Commandments down to the foot of Mount Sinai and gives them to the people, they all at once responded, “we will do everything the Lord has commanded” (Exodus 24:3). We know that wasn’t always the case, and if we are being completely honest, you and I are no different than the Israelites because we fall short of following God’s “House rules” from time to time.

We know that the law, the Ten Commandments, was similar to a guardian until Jesus came, it protected God’s people until they could be made right with God through individual salvation and faith in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:24). Remember, when a teacher of the religious law asked Jesus which of the commandments was the most important, Jesus said that we are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength; and equally as important, love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-34, & Luke 10:25-28). Jesus wasn’t telling us to ignore the Ten Commandments, rather since He was the fulfillment of the Law of Moses meaning He lived out the Ten Commandments perfectly, He was simply encapsulating all ten of God’s “House rules” and putting them into two clear commandments known as the Greatest Commandment.

Friends, when it seems difficult to follow God’s “House rules”, pause, and connect with Him in prayer with an open heart. When we seek to love Him the way we are called as His children to love Him, with our whole heart, it makes our relationship with Him closer and deeper and as a result it makes loving our neighbor a little easier because we get a chance to love them like Jesus loves them, perfectly and whole.

Exodus 20:1-17 (NLT)

Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community

1 Then God gave the people all these instructions:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

3 “You must not have any other god but me.

4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You must not murder.

14 “You must not commit adultery.

15 “You must not steal.

16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 24:12 (NLT)

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.”

Matthew 5:17 (NLT)

Teaching about the Law

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Galatians 3:21-24 (NLT)

21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

God’s Children through Faith

23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.

24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for coming and being the perfect example of love and for outlining the way I am called to love with clear instructions. Help me to follow those instructions more closely so that I may grow closer in my relationship with You, as I walk further away from sin, and deeper into a place of pure love with You. I want to love my neighbor more selflessly, like You love them, and to do that I need Your guidance, Holy Spirit, and a heart like Yours, Jesus. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.

Today, is day ten of our journey and our symbol is Manna.

When God wants me to embrace change, He typically leads me in small obedient steps. Of course, that is not always possible, because life is fragile and we are not in control. However, small steps are a good start when making positive changes to our lives. Never despise small faith-led beginnings, because God always builds on them.

In our Old Testament passage today, God is helping the Israelites learn how to trust him by taking small steps of obedience. They are in a barren land; the environment is hostile and they are surrounded by sand and stone. Therefore, the people complain and express a desire to return to slavery in Egypt which is obviously not what they really want. They simply want their lives to be easier. Don’t we all?

So, God promises to meet their needs in this desolate place each day. They cannot gather and store up tomorrow’s provision of manna. They must gather what they will actually consume in one day. God lays out detailed instructions for each day to test their obedience in trusting His supply. This calls for faith which will help to shape them in the Lord’s character.

The Lord God sends manna from heaven. The word manna means, “What is it?” In its present state, the manna does not look like food or provision, but the people will understand if they will simply follow the instructions and trust God. This unusual manna was an unexpected Gift from God. They did not have to work to harvest it; rather, it fell down from heaven fresh each day. And, when they ate it, they were satisfied.

In our New Testament passage from the gospel of John, Jesus reminds his disciples, the religious leaders, and the crowds that it was the Father, not Moses, who sent the manna to feed Israel. Generations later, the same Father sends the Son as the Bread/Manna from Heaven who will bring eternal life. Jesus wants to meet our spiritual needs each day with grace, but we must eat the Word to sustain our spiritual souls. It’s a daily walk of small steps that grows our faith!

Exodus 16:4, 14-15, 31 NLT
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.
14 When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat.

31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.

John 6:31-35, 48-51 NLT
31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day nine of our journey and our symbol is the Cup.

Have you noticed some things are crisp in your memory and other things not so much? I write down many more things these days, because I don’t want to forget something important. If I don’t have a way to write something down, I associate what I want to remember with a person, place, or life event. It works pretty well most of the time! lol!

In the Old Testament, God rescued the Israelites from bondage in Egypt; yet, in spite of all God had done for them, they quickly forgot His goodness. So, God called them to remember what He had done to deliver them by celebrating the Passover table every year. During this celebration, they would retell the event of when they wiped the blood of a spotless lamb over the doorframes of their dwelling. Through the retelling, the people would remember and focus on the goodness of God to spare their lives; to save them from death.

In the New Testament, Jesus used His final Passover meal with the disciples to show that His sacrificial death would give new meaning to the festival. Jesus came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He shed His blood on the cross to fulfill the Passover; He died for you. Just as there had to be an act of faith and obedience in which the blood was applied to the doorframes of the Israelites’ homes in Egypt, so there must be an act of faith in which Christ’s shed blood is applied to our lives. If you have never done so, by faith ask for Christ’s blood to cover you.

Exodus 12:21-27 NLT
21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.
24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. 26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ 27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.

Matthew 26:26-28 NLT
26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
Hebrews 9:22 NLT  In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the cup of salvation; the shedding of your blood applied to the lives of your children. The blood confirms the covenant we have with you. Thank you for the rest this gives our lives. We know you will bring us safely through the day of judgment. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day eight of our journey and our symbol is the Burning Bush.

Years ago, my parents owned a home in North Carolina. The way they got rid of fall leaves and tree trimmings was by placing them in a fire pit and burning them. From a safe distance, I was mesmerized by the flames reaching high into the air and enjoying the smell of the fire.

Today, our reading highlights the life and faith of Abraham’s descendent Moses [the great-nephew of Joseph] and his experience at the burning bush. Moses is mesmerized by the fire, but he is frightened when God speaks from the bush, identifies Himself as “I Am,” proclaims the ground as holy, and calls Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. I am not sure how any of us would have responded to all that, but Moses protests this calling from God by saying, “Who am I to lead your people out of Egypt?”

God designs every human being and directs his or her path; therefore, He knows what He is doing in leading our lives. Sometimes the difficult part for us is getting into agreement with God, because we would more than likely choose different things for our lives. The way God brings Joseph [and the people of Israel] to rule Egypt is a complete surprise, but God’s grace gives Joseph the ability to provide food for them all during a severe famine. Years later, God calls Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, because they had become slaves to the governing authority and were not free to worship God.

Our lesson reminds us of God’s faithfulness; He is constant and whole—never changes and is always there to love us. God never runs out of power or energy; He is a consuming fire whose love burns on forever. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God and He wants to be Lord of our lives. Therefore, He will do the unexpected in order to get our attention, too!

Exodus 3:1-6, 10-15 Moses and the Burning Bush
1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.

5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

14 God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.”

John 8:58 NLT Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!”

John 10:30 NLT “The Father and I are one.”

John 18:4-6 NLT
4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.
5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.“I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!

Hebrews 13:8 NLT Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being constant in love and power. You are faithful and true to love and provide for your creation. Thank you for the lesson of the burning bush. Help us, as your children, to be willing to go and do whatever you have designed us to do. May we be quick to obey. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day seven of our journey and our symbol is Joseph’s Colorful Coat.

Do you have an article of clothing that is one of your favorites? I have several clothing items that I wear frequently because they make me smile! These pieces are comfortable and colorful. In fact, one of my favorite tops is vibrant with every color imaginable and has been “dubbed” by a friend as Joseph’s coat! When I wear this top, people can certainly see me coming.

Jacob’s son, Joseph, had a coat of many colors—Jacob had it made especially for him. In fact, Joseph had eleven brothers, but this coat set him apart as Jacob’s favorite son. Naturally, there would be some pride involved in Joseph when wearing this coat. As well, there would be a response of jealousy from Joseph’s brothers. So, over time, the coat of favor becomes an issue of conflict and pain. To deal with their jealousy, the brothers devise a plan to kill Joseph, but later decide to strip him of his robe and sell him into slavery. Evil may be busy, but is this the end of Joseph?

No, it is the new beginning for Joseph in the Hand of Almighty God; Joseph is powerless to move unless God moves him. God uses the jealousy of his brothers to position Joseph in Egypt where God moves him from the prison to the palace! When God is working in our lives and positioning us for His work, it requires grace or favor. The world hates grace, because it is entirely based on the power of God and not climbing the fleshy ladder of human success or power; it is always driven in unexpected ways. The favor on Joseph’s life is God-designed, because the Lord plans to use Joseph in order to bring Wisdom and salvation to Israel during a time of extreme famine. In fact, God’s plan is so big for Joseph that his jealous but hungry brothers eventually bow to honor him. You see the enemy may have plans to harm God’s children, but God’s grace and goodness is much more powerful. Where is God beginning to work anew in your life?

Genesis 37:1-4, 23-28 NLT Joseph’s Dreams
1 So Jacob settled again in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived as a foreigner.
2 This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.
3 Jacob[a] loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.[b] 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
12 Soon after this, Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.”
“I’m ready to go,” Joseph replied.
14 “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along,” Jacob said. “Then come back and bring me a report.” So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron.
15 When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?”
17 “Yes,” the man told him. “They have moved on from here, but I heard them say, ‘Let’s go on to Dothan.’” So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there.

Joseph Sold into Slavery
18 When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. 19 “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. 20 “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
21 But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 22 “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.
23 So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. 24 Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 25 Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. 27 Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. 28 So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces[b] of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.
Genesis 45:5 NLT But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

Genesis 50:20 NLT You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Romans 8:28 NLT And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Acts 3:13-15 NLT
13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Joseph’s life and the lessons we have learned through him. Thank you, Jesus, for rescuing us from our enemies; for offering us salvation. When we feel betrayed or treated unkindly, may we remember Joseph’s colorful coat as a symbol of the grace that covers us in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.