Mon.’s Devo - The Branches

Read Romans 11:12-23 Paul is prophesying into a time when the Gentiles will be used to bring the Jews back in. If the fact that the Jews rejected Jesus ended up in the Gentiles being grafted in, then how much greater will it be when the Jews come back in. It will be like the story of the prodigal son. The father will be so happy he will celebrate with much pomp. Paul is called to the Gentiles, but his heart is still to see his own people come to Jesus. When the Jews rejected Christ and God opened up the invitation to the world, many came in and still come in today. Before Jesus comes back again, the Jewish people will have their spiritual eyes opened and they will accept Jesus as their Messiah. This will be like the dead being brought back to life. The beginning of the Israelites was holy - Abraham. He was their root. But over time wild trees were grafted in and produced wild branches. To talk evil about the bad branches is to not have the spirit of God in you. Many of the Gentiles believed that the bad branches were broken off so that they might be grafted in. Paul explains that this is true: the wild branches were broken off and the Gentiles are grafted in by faith. But, he warns them not to get proud because if God didn’t spare the Jews when they had no faith, he will do the same to us if we have no faith. God is both gentle and severe. He is severe towards the Jews and gentle towards the Gentiles right now, but it is contingent on our belief. God can and will graft the Jews back in. Lord, we are gracious that you have grafted us in but our heart is to see your chosen people grafted back in. We pray peace and revelation to come to Israel.