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Throughout the month of December, the Nugget is featuring valuable lessons that we can learn from the Christmas season -- not just for Christmas, but ALL YEAR LONG! Today’s lesson comes to us from Nugget Writer, Lynne Phipps...
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 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 tied each tree in a tidy bundle, to be tied securely to the top of the car, heading home for decoration and cheer.
Trees are frequently spoken of in the Scriptures. Noah was brought an olive branch, while in the Ark. Abraham rested under the oaks of Mamre. Moses worshipped God before the burning bush. Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view of Jesus. Trees are the oldest growing plants in the world, earning a new tree ring each year. Ezekiel speaks of trees in prophecy: “All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I will bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.” (Ezekiel 17:24 NASB)
This verse was part of a prophecy, as God would bring low the kings of Israel, and prosper the line of David, the future king. The family of David is often described as the root of Jesse, a branch growing up from the stump. Jesus the Messiah was a descendant of David the king, who began life as a tender sapling, but grew to be tall and eminent in the Holy Spirit. He ended His life 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.
When your family decorates the Christmas tree this year, with favourite and cherished ornaments, do it with a new sense of wonder at the coming of Jesus the Messiah, the branch of Jesse. May I wish you a joyful Christmas and blessed New Year.
Shirley Moulton
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