Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Remaining faithful and avoiding spiritual pride.
Bible Reading:  Romans 11:16-24
  “do not consider yourself to be superior……………….but the root supports you.” Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭18‬ ‭

DEVOTION

Paul used the metaphor of the olive tree representing Israel to explain the relationship of the Gentiles and the Jews. The roots of the olive tree is Judaism. The Old Testament Jews were proud and thought that God belonged only to them. The unbelieving Jews were the natural olive branches cut off from the tree by God. The wild olive branches, representing the believing Gentiles were grafted into the good olive tree by the grace of God. The wild olive branches are growing spiritually, nourished by the sap from the original olive roots (Abrahamic faith). The roots support the branches and not vise versa.
Salvation came to the Gentiles by faith and grace, so that God could provoke the jealousy of the unbelieving Jews. The Gentiles must not boast about their being grafted into the olive tree and look down with contempt at the original branches that were cut off. The Gentiles are no way superior. Our faith is in the Jewish Jesus. Paul gave the grafted Gentiles a reality orientation about their status, and reminded them not to be boastful and proud.
The rejection of the unbelieving Jews was temporary, which can happen to the grafted Gentiles too, if they fall away from their faith in Christ. God has the power to easily graft the natural branches back into the olive tree, if they believe in Christ, which will be a blessing for all.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Enable us to be humble and faithful. Amen.

Thought for the day

 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭

Saramma Chacko, Epiphany MTC.

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