Jeremiah 23:5

Have you ever had something grow in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? You had to look closely and examine it.

The same can happen when people make showy spiritual promises. At first, they may look like the real deal. The problem, however, is if their promises are not based on Christ and Biblical truth, their flowery promises end up being thorns to the soul, weeds that choke the life out of a person.

In both Isaiah 4:2 and Jeremiah 23:5 there is a righteous BRANCH, Jesus Christ, who is prophesied. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’”

Jesus Christ is the genuine, true, righteous Branch who came and in whom we must be grafted in order to live eternally.

BRANCH of the LORD, who lives forever, thank You for grafting us into You and giving us eternal life.

Have you ever had something grow in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? That’s happened to me. The same can happen with people or books that make flowery spiritual promises. The problem is, if they’re not rooted in Christ, the flowery show will fade and their false promises will end up being thorns to the soul. Jeremiah 23:5 announces the righteous BRANCH, Jesus Christ, whom we can trust.

‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’

Jesus Christ, the righteous Branch, is the One to whom we want to be grafted for this life and eternity.

BRANCH of the LORD, who lives forever, thank You for giving us true, eternal life. 

I’m doing a happy dance about the broccoli in my garden. Yes, I’ve had small gardens in past years, but I’ve never grown broccoli. Now, however, I have a beautiful head of broccoli on my kitchen counter ready to cook for dinner tonight. I can’t wait!  So how did this delicious plant grow? Among numerous items that had to happen, the stem had to stay attached to the stalk. Otherwise, the floret would not have been produced. It is simple logic. We understand it. We don’t question the fruit bearing process.  Building on the analogy of that which is common, Jeremiah 23:5 explains our spiritual relationship to Jesus. He describes Jesus as a righteous branch. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’” Our Heavenly Father planted Jesus in our midst on planet earth. Believers are grafted into Him and His righteous Spirit is in us and able to produce the crowning fruit of His life that is visible and tasty to others. We do well to ask, “Is it?”

Heavenly Father, thank You for grafting us into the righteous branch of Jesus Christ. We pray that Christ’s Spirit flow through us so our lives produce that which is appealing to others so they seek to be also grafted into Christ. 

Have you ever had something grow in your flowerbed and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? That’s happened to me. The same can happen when people read books or listen to people who make flowery claims and promises. Words can sound good, but if the teachings are not based on Truth, the words come up short and mislead people. In  Jeremiah 23:5, Jesus is described as a righteous Branch, the real deal rather than flowery show. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’” Jesus is the wise, just, righteous branch of the Lord. Believers are grafted into Him. Are we daily bowing to His kingship? Are we allowing His life to flow through us as syrup flows through a maple tree? Is His sweet life in us bringing joy to others; wooing them to be grafted into Christ?

Heavenly Father, thank You for grafting us into the righteous branch of Jesus Christ. Stir our hearts to be more intentional about Christ’s Spirit flowing through us so others are blessed and drawn to salvation in Him. 

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Have you ever had something grow in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? That’s happened to me. The same can happen with people or books that make flowery spiritual promises. The problem is, if they’re not rooted in Christ, the  flowery show will fade and the false empty promises end up being thorns to the soul . Jeremiah 23:5 announces the righteous BRANCH, Jesus Christ, whom we can trust. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’” Jesus is the One to whom we want to be grafted for this life and eternity.

BRANCH of the LORD, who lives forever, thank You for giving us true, eternal life. 

“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’”

Jeremiah 23:5

Have you ever had something growing in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? That’s happened to me. The same can sometimes be said of a person. They’re in our life. They seem to be a good person, but later you find out they aren’t who they appeared to be.

The same can happen with people and books that make spiritual promises. If they’re not rooted in Christ, the initial flowery show will eventually be found to be false.

The prophet, Jeremiah, announces that there is one righteous BRANCH and that is Jesus Christ. He’s the one in whom believers are grafted and through whom we live and bear spiritual fruit.

BRANCH of the LORD, who lives forever, thank You for giving us genuine, true, eternal life in You.