Friday, June 12, 2009

Contrary to Nature- God Gardens in Rom 11

Romans 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Any smart Gardner would never take a cultured tree and graft in a wild tree. It would make about as much sense as putting a college fight song horn on a Rolls Royce. As a gentile believer, I should never feel contempt toward my Jewish brother... and never boast. I should feel nothing but gratitude as I drink in all the good soil and nutrients of God's Word. It was the Jew who painstakingly copied the Law of God, jot by jot and tittle by tittle, day by day, year by year. It was the Jewish priest who took great care to prepare the sacrifice, exactly by the rule of God, it was the Jewish dad who prepared the passover lamb every year. I am the pauper in the palace. I am the ultimate Beverly Hillbilly. I handle holy things with no regard to my predecessors. They considered God's name too holy to even say, I use it almost flippantly. Why do I have tears as I write this? I am so incredibly thankful for what Jesus has done for me and I cry out to the God of Israel.... call Your people to Yourself. Let them see Jesus as their loving Messiah. He cries for them. Who will take the gospel to the root? Let the hardening end and the flow begin!

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