The Olive Tree

My wife and I pruned our crabapple tree last night. All this rain and the warmer temperatures have really made it grow. Almost TOO big. But now the tree looks good. Well-shaped and more energy-efficient, it is going to produce much fruit into the future.

The same thing works for you and me. God prunes us through trials t develop our character - fruit. If we don't produce fruit, God cuts us down and throws us in the fire.

Pruning is one thing, grafting in branches is another. Neither my wife nor I have that knowledge or ability. But more on that in a moment.

Have you ever heard of replacement theology? It is the believe that "The Church" has replaced Israel in God's plan. Believers in Jesus (Christians) are the new "Israel." And the Jewish people have been rejected by God in favor of the church. That's the belief. It's not true.

Take a look at Romans 11. Paul explains the truth rather well. We, the Gentiles, have been grafted in to "the olive tree" - Israel. The tree is Jesus. The Gentiles, that's us, are one branch. The Jewish people are still another branch. Those who come to faith in Jesus that is. Other branches, those who don't place their faith in Christ, are "broken off.

You don't want to be broken off.

"17 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, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you." - Romans 11:17-18

We should thank God every day that we have been grafted in. We are blessed to even be part of the tree at all!

Romans 11:11-32