Are you proud of your Christianity?’Woot Woot! Yay Christians!’ Do you wear it like a football jersey? ‘Ha Ha! I’m a Christian and you’re not! I’m a winner! and you? Well if you’re not a winner then you know what that means!’ God chose you. And if you’re not Jewish, He didn’t even choose you first. He allowed you in on the gospel (good news of God’s grace) when His chosen people rejected it. He didn’t reject them. The plan is still there for them to come to Him. Before you get all proud that you are a Christian while someone else isn’t take a step back. God chose you. God revealed Himself to you. God adopted you. God did all of it. You? You said “yes, please.” In Romans 11, The family of God is described as a tree, the tree of Abraham. Because of their unbelief God cut off some branches (the unbelieving Jews) and He grafted in wild branches (the believing non-Jew or gentile) One of the reasons He did that was so that His people would get jealous and want it for themselves. When the Jews snubbed Jesus, it was great for the gentile (non-Jew). Imagine how awesome it will be when His plan is completed and they accept salvation! Romans 11:15 says, “15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!” You are not better than anyone else because you happen to call yourself a Christian. You are certainly not better than God’s chosen people, the Israelites. Verses 17-21: 17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. 19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’ spare you either.” Get that? He is LORD! He saved you. Verses 23 and 24 say, 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.” He wants His people to believe. The ultimate plan is not only for you to believe but for them as well. Verses 26-36 read, “26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. 27 And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.” 28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. 30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. 31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. 33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! 34 For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? 35 And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” So drop your Christian pride and remember who God is. He saved you. He wants everyone to come to a relationship with Him. There’s room for all of us to be branches on the tree. It is His tree and he decides which branches He keeps, cuts off and grafts in. You had nothing to do with it. Stop praising yourself and start praising God. Make your mind like His and remember He wants everyone to know Him, not just a few.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:49:06 +0000
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