"If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root" (Romans 11:17)

It is wonderful to know that we have been grafted into the amazing plan of God. Through faith in Jesus we have been chosen, called and set apart as his children and heirs in this world. Although once far removed from the promises of God, we have been brought into fellowship with him through Christ Jesus. Once contrary to God and wild by nature, God was able to graft us in, to partake in the blessings of Christ.

Paul uses an example of an olive tree and engrafted branches to illustrate his point. Once the branch is joined to the tree, it binds itself to the tree and takes nourishment from the roots just as the natural branches would. As the graft grows it becomes a part of the tree. After a while it is apparent that the branch is one and the same as the original tree. Paul has encouraged us with these words showing us that when we are joined into Christ, we became part of the promises spoken by God. We now receive our nourishment and life through the root which is Christ Jesus.

Jesus also spoke of these things in John 15. He said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" ( John 15:5-8 ). Once we are vitally united to the vine we will bear much fruit for the kingdom because of the life that the vine provides to us. When we live taking life from the very essence of God within us, then what is produced in our lives comes from that union. We can do nothing on our own and that is why it is necessary to remain united and joined to the vine drawing life from Him.

Once we are joined into the vine we start taking on the characteristics of the vine instead of the nature of our original state. The wild disposition that defined us before starts to fade away. Those things are removed just as a gardener would remove pieces of the branch that hinder its growth. This is a great byproduct of being joined to the vine. Jesus said that the Father prunes us so that we will bear more fruit. He cuts away these things that hinder our growth and are contrary to the kingdom. Jesus said in John 15, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" ( John 15:1-2 ). He went on to say that by the words that were spoken we were made clean. His teachings and his word are what prunes us, removing dead branches and works so that we will be more fruitful ( John 15:3 ). This is why it is necessary to remain steadfast in the vine drawing upon Him for the abundant life that he promised to us.

Paul understood the vital connection of living our lives drawing from the source of life as opposed to just surviving. This is why he reminds us that we are part of the promise, grafted in to the root, whereby our life is sustained. Today, I am thankful for this reminder. I praise God that he gives us the abundant life promised by Jesus. May you draw your nourishment from the root, flourishing and growing in all good things, amen.

"If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches (Romans 11:16)

Inside of the hearts of the people of Israel is a God-centered, God planted tender root. Once this nation comes to the realization that Jesus is their promised Messiah then we will see amazing things come as a result. Right now they are blinded to the truth of Jesus because of hardness of heart ( Romans 11:8 ), but a time is coming when they will look upon his fullness and accept him for who he is. In today's passage, Paul gives us hope for this very thing.

Paul said, "If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches" ( Romans 11:6 ).  Do you wonder what firstfruits he is referring to is? The first fruits that he mentions are Abraham and the patriarchs. With Abraham began the nation of Israel and he was also the father of many nations because of his faith. He believed God when circumstances seemed impossible and that faith was credited to him as righteousness ( Romans 4:3 ). This faith and this righteousness that was credited to him is the root that is holy and all of Israel's natural line descended from these things.

Israel has an incredible heritage of patriarchs who trusted God and as a result God moved on their behalf. This legacy is part of what makes them so special. So "if the root is holy, so are the branches". God has planted himself in their hearts and although they do not yet understand that Jesus was their Messiah, this heritage of faith has sustained them throughout the centuries.

Just like a child when they are of age will sometimes go their own way, they experience the world and forget the teachings in which they were brought up. However, those things have been planted in their hearts and have taken root. After a while when the lure of this world fades away and that child see it for what it is, they will return to the Lord and start walking once again in His ways. This is similar to what Paul is saying here, Israel will remember the Lord and what He has done. They will recognize that their Savior has come and he is Jesus. They will leave the way of the Law so that they may partake in God's divine glory through Christ Jesus.

Today, I am thankful that God's word is a root in my life that cannot be removed. I am rejoicing in the fact that we will witness Israel returning to the Lord in the days to come. May you understand this message and be blessed and encouraged by it, amen.