Monday, September 10, 2007

God Is Great

I just felt led by God to preach this parable to believers and non-believers:

"If the first piece of bread is given to God, then the whole loaf is His also; and if the roots of a tree are offered to God, the branches are His also. Some of the branches of the cultivated olive tree have been broken off, and a branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to it. You Gentiles are like that wild olive tree, and now you share the strong spiritual life of the Jews. So then, you must not despise those who were broken off like the branches. How can you be proud? You are just a branch; you don't support the roots--the roots support you.
But you will say, "Yes, but the branches were broken off to make room for me." That is true. They were broken off because they did not believe, while you remain in place because you do believe. But do not be proud of it; instead be afraid. God did not spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think He will spare you? Here we see how kind and severe God is. He is severe toward those who have fallen, but kind to you--if you continue in His kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off. And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place they were; for God is able to do that. You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated olive tree. The Jews are like this cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again."
--- Romans 11:16-24

Need any elaborations? If so, feel free to ask me. I'll be more than willing to share with you.

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