Careful Not to Get Broken Off

Scripture: Watch out! Remember that those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn’t believe God, and you are there only because you do. Do not be proud; be humble and grateful—and careful. Romans 11:20

Observation: Paul is providing the Roman gentile believers with an understanding of how God has provided salvation through Jesus, yet the "chosen people" - the Jews - are missing out on that salvation. While the metaphors he uses work, this summary hits the mark ... the Jews "didn't believe God" and thus have missed out on salvation. Gentile believers do believe God through faith in Jesus, and thus do receive salvation. However, there is a warning, which is to be careful of stumbling into unbelief, but instead be humble before the Lord.

The point of Jewish unbelief is important, as it is rooted in a belief in God's word. Historically, God gave the Jews his laws, the first of which was to have no other gods. This came with warnings from Moses, Joshua, and many other prophets. When the Jews ignored the law, and ignored the progressive warnings, they were exiled. This all tied back to a lack of belief in God ... belief in his authority, power, love, and the words of his prophets to those ends.

In the same way, the Lord pronounced his future Messiah, a savior foreshadowed in history and ritual, and explicitly described by the prophets. When Jesus came in fulfillment of everything that had been promised and said, the Jews rejected him. Some didn't believe the signs, some didn't believe such a savior was even promised, and all of this reflects a lack of belief in God's authority, power, love, and the words of his prophets.

So Paul is warning the faithful gentiles ... believe in the Lord, and in his authority, power, love and the words of his prophets! Do not be proud and thus think that you have understanding and control outside of the Lord. Be humble, knowing your salvation is a gif from God. Be grateful and give thanks to the Lord. And be careful not to lose your belief in the Lord - do not elevate other things and do not reject his words - as he retains judgment.

Application: I believe in the Lord with all my heart, and today I can reaffirm that.

I believe in the Lord's authority over all things on heaven and earth, that he is the Lord of all creation.

I believe in the Lord's power and might, and that he has the ability to manage, control, and effect all things for his purposes.

I believe in the Lord's love for me and for others, and that he provides salvation through faith in Jesus as the true manifestation of that love, as he desires all to be saved.

I believe in the Lord's word, manifested in the bible, and alive today through the Holy Spirit that continues to teach and instruct.

I believe.

Prayer: Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief. When I am afraid, when I struggle with life, when I feel hopeless, when I look around at our society and just cannot find any possible way forward, please help my unbelief. Amen.