Read Romans 11
Key Verse 18b: “You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
Observation: Here Paul is talking about the Jews who were the original part of the vine. God cut them off because of their unbelief and in their place grafted in the Gentiles. Later he says in verse 21 “For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” This is a clear reminder to be careful not to be arrogant or to think that we are better than the Jews. At best we will always be only grafted in branches. We must take our position in the kingdom with humility and thankfulness.
Application: When I read this verse I knew what its heart meant but the way it spoke to me is that I must always be careful of who’s who in this work of the church. I do not support God’s kingdom through my work in pastoring but God’s kingdom supports me. I do not bring strength to God’s church but God’s church brings strength to me. It is a very easy reversal to make and to become arrogant in thinking that all that I do is building God’s church and supporting God’s church and making God’s church great when in reality it is quite the opposite.
Prayer: Father, help me to be humble in my work and help me to constantly remember that I am working for you and not the other way around. Help me to remember that my strength comes from you and I do not bring strength to You. As I go about this day, that means I need your direction, I need your ability to adapt and adopt what you have for me to do this day. Amen
