#DailyDevotion Jesus Is A Cedar Even You Little Bird Can Nest In

Eze. 17:22 Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.

 

Now before this, the Lord was speaking how he made a covenant with a prince of Jerusalem who spurned the Lord and turn to Egypt for help. He is a cedar that will be cut down and indeed he was and all Jerusalem with him.

 

But not the Lord proposes something new. He is going to take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar, a tender one and plant it on the high and lofty mountain height in Israel. This tender sprig of cedar is Jesus. There on the heights of Jerusalem, on Golgatha, the Lord God planted Jesus on the cross on the heights. He was buried there in the hills a young man merely 33 or so years old. But the grave could not keep him. Jesus took root there and his kingdom began to grow.

 

His kingdom is such that one third of the earth’s population calls themselves by his name, Christian. Indeed, Jesus’ kingdom was not just for Jews. It isn’t limited to Israelites, children of Jacob. No from every language, tribe, nation and people has the Lord Jesus Christ made his people. His church is every growing to so every sort of bird will nest in her branches, that is to say people from every people, nation, tribe and tongue.

 

Paul being an apostle to the Gentiles was never a plan B. It was always part of God’s plan of salvation. Peter going to Cornelius’ house and his household receiving the Holy Spirit was always God’s plan to redeem the nations.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ continues to grow his kingdom through the proclamation of his word. The proclamation of the free forgiveness of sins for his name’s sake continues to bring people of every type into his kingdom. He continues to send forth heralds into the world with the message the Father has been reconciled to mankind. Jesus’ blood has made atonement for their sins and trespasses. All is forgiven. Confess your sins. Trust in Christ’s work for you and be received into his kingdom. Yes, even you little bird, there is a branch for you to nest in.

 

Gracious God and Father, you planted your Son Jesus Christ on the mountains of Moriah on the cross outside of Jerusalem. Now his kingdom has spread throughout the earth through the proclamation of his name. Ever give us the name and word of your Son Jesus that we too may be included amongst the birds taking shade in his Church. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.