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Listen while you read: "The Birthday Of A King"1 (Lyrics) |
Decorating the Christmas tree is an integral part of the celebrations each year. I once helped out at a commercial Christmas tree farm near Ottawa, Canada, in December. It was an impressive operation: planting spruce, balsam fir, and pine trees years in advance in irrigated fields, well planned to have enough trees to be hand-cut by visiting families each year. The tree-shaker machine would shake off any loose conifer needles, and the binder would wrap each tree in a tidy bundle, ready to be tied securely to the top of the car, heading home for decoration and cheer.
Trees are frequently spoken of in the Scriptures, from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden to the tree of life on the banks of the river in the heavenly city. Jesus the Messiah, Who was a descendant in the line of David the king, is several times heralded in prophecy as the Branch growing up from the root of Jesse, David's father. Here are two instances:
Isaiah 11:1 – A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. (NIV)
Jeremiah 33:15 – In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. (NIV)
Jesus ended His life on earth on a cross, a tree stripped of its roots and branches, to pay the price for our sins and offer the way to new life with God.
1 Peter 2:24 – He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (NIV)
This year, when your family decorates the Christmas tree with favourite and cherished ornaments, do it with a new sense of wonder at the coming of Jesus the Messiah, the Branch of Jesse. I wish you a joyful Christmas and blessed New Year.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Son, and the season of Christmas in which we celebrate His advent to our world. Amen.
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Thanks for sharing, Shirley.
Thank you, Shirley for this meditation.
A wonderful reminder Shirley! Blessings.
Great post, Shirley. Have a blessed Christmas!
Thank you, Shirley, for providing a good meaning for a Christmas tradition.
Helpful analogy.
I hope your Christmas celebration is joyous as well.
Dear Shirley:
Thank you so much Shirley. God bless you and all your loved ones now and forever.
Merry Christmas.
Greetings Shirley,
Thank you for this very meaningful and mindful devotional today. Our Lord truly is the most wonderful gift to receive. Blessings for these very special writings you do.
Dear Shirley,
Thanking you for your beautiful devotional message through 2021.
I would like to take this opportunity, to also wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year 2022.
Enjoy.
God’s richest Blessing always.
Shirley:
That is a wonderful remembrance from days gone by.
We live in a well-forested part of central Ontario where there are several Christmas tree plantations nearby. At this time of the year, many of the vehicles passing by on our concession road have trees atop their roofs. It is heart-warming to know they’re heading home to be decorated and enjoyed.
From now on, when they pass by, I’ll think of your lesson about roots, trunks, and branches in our Christian life.
Blessings to you and your family, and a very Merry Christmas!
(Ontario)
Good morning, Shirley,
Your devotional reminded me of my conversation with my mother-in-law yesterday. Her youngest son for many years now buys her a tree and his daughters help her to decorate it. She expressed yesterday that the tree is for her, and it is something she really wants each year, and this is a lovely way to receive it. Well I have known her for many years and did not know that having the decorated tree was very special to her. I have made some of the ornaments that adorn her tree, so it makes me feel that maybe I am little part of that special feeling. She is deeply religious so maybe a tree has a meaning like you reference in your devotional. I will have to ask her when I call her.
I appreciate all your sharing of your thoughts with us throughout the year. I picture the tree as the tree of Jesus’ light shining in the world and love to have it on when the room is dark. I will now think of the tree in other ways this Christmas. May you be filled with the joy, peace, love, and hope of Christmas.
Thank you, Shirley. Growing up in Western Washington, Daddy always cut our own trees, and when we got older, we got to go help find the best one. Now we have a large tree with built in lighting. So we did the decorating and have the most beautiful Star top I’ve ever seen.
God bless you and yours.
(Cal.)