Have confidence in the Keeper of the Tree.

Romans 11:24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? Paul used an illustration from horticulture to encourage his Gentile readers to have a heart for those among his Jewish brethren who were yet to believe in Jesus. First, he showed them that their inclusion in the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham was miraculous and unnatural. God graft a wild olive branch into a cultivated olive tree? Unheard of. Second, and on the other hand, he argued that if God were to graft/save a natural branch into the original tree, it would be not only be natural and logical, but it would be the best thing to do. It’s what any wise horticulturist would do if he wanted good fruit. Paul’s point was that God is going to do just that. We can expect, if it pleases Him, to graft a large remnant of Jews back into the promise made to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and that all the families of the earth will be blessed in him. Abraham is the root of the tree. God grows the tree, and produces the fruit—all for the glory of His name. This is our confidence and joy as we live to love with Jesus. We know God is always at work with His tree. We are merely branches. We don’t produce the fruit, we simply receive the life from the tree and display the fruit. God gets the glory. Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” But as we abide in Him and He is us, we bear (display) much fruit. It is through our fruit bearing that the Father is glorified. So live to love with Jesus today with confidence and with great joy, knowing that whatever fruit God produces, the Keeper of the Tree will be glorified. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com