Small Wonder: A Christmas Devotional Journeyنموونە

Small beginning, wonderful ending

Today, we’re offered the chance to celebrate the miraculous growth of the kingdom of God.

In verse 1, the royal line of David, Jesse’s son, was in such a poor state that it looked like it’d been cut down to a lifeless stump. But from this stump, tiny growth in the form of a shoot begins. This is truly a ‘small wonder’ beginning. This wonderful growth appears fragile but is totally dependable, because the Spirit of the Lord rests there.

By the end of our reading, in verses 9 and 10, the tiniest of starts has grown to become the biggest of hopes. From a shoot on a stump, looking hopeless, we have the promise of the whole Earth being filled with the knowledge of the Lord and a banner to which all nations rally.

There’s a visual parallel of this in Britain today, with literal shoots appearing from the base of the Sycamore Gap tree in Hadrian’s Wall, felled in an act of vandalism in September 2023. There are also multiple art and replanting projects happening to turn this tragic story into something hopeful.

Today, we’re reminded of the wonderful news of growth and hope that begins with Jesus’ birth and finds fulfilment in his return. In the meantime, our God is still in the turnaround business. He still creates good news stories from bad and still creates growth where it looks impossible. And today, we are invited to play our part in His transformation work, and to be His messengers of hope.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for this beautiful picture and promise of growth and transformation.

Whatever I face today, in everyday situations which seem to bear little or no hope, help me to remember Your power to transform. Show me where I can be Your agent for transformation today.