I have been interested in genealogy for a while and the language around family trees can be helpful in explaining family dynamics and relationships. The Bible also talks about who Jesus is in terms of ancestry. And this is where that shoot that grows out of THE root is a very good thing for you and me.

“Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1

This is good news for us! Jesus is here with us and for us.

Let’s let His love for others take root in our lives. Let’s be open to His pruning. Let’s trust Him to provide what we need to grow our faith while also being intentional about learning more about God through His Word. Let’s plants seeds. Let’s water the faith of young or struggling Christians. Let’s think about our faith soil — are we surrounded by life giving nutrients?

Has a lot of manure (difficulty) come your way? As stinky as that can be, it truly can grow you like nothing else can. God can use every last bit of our personal struggles to deepen out faith.

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV