Cultivate the Cost of Discipleship
As I stepped outside through the patio door just off the dining room, I saw the small, potted tree, or what had once been a living olive tree. You see, on the back patio sits a pot with a small dead tree. It is Fortunate but also Unfortunate, this small olive tree had been a gift, but now it stands there in its pot—dead. Yes, gifts are precious, giving to us that which we did not earn or deserve, so they are so fortunate; however, gifts that are neglected are unfortunate, for the waste is readily noticed.
The apostle Paul wrote under the authority of the LORD, writing:
“But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles.
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 11: 3a & 17-20 & 24 NASB)
. . .
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wile olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
do not be arrogant toward the branches;
but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root,
but the root supports you.
You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith.
Do not be conceited, but fear;
. . .
“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?”
I am not Jewish. More than likely, neither are you. So, we are not one born into the family of the chosen ones. However, as believers, we have received the gift of God’s salvation and have now been “grafted in among them.” This means that the branch that supports the children of Israel is now part of our DNA because we have chosen to believe in Christ Jesus. It was and it remains a daily decision to follow our Savior Jesus.
The root of all: Almighty God, who is the Creator, establishes and gives life to all.
“it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you [and me].”
Therefore, God will not overlook the unbelief of His chosen people, AND God will not overlook our unbelief. Also true, God will not overlook the sin of His chosen people, BUT there will be consequences for their sin, AND there will be consequences for our sin too.
You and I, as well as the children of Israel, are to remember: GOD IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
Thus, in returning to the original analogy of the small, dead olive tree sitting in the pot on the back patio, it is paramount that we who have chosen to believe remember (and do not become arrogant) about the gift of God we have received.
God’s Grafting into His Vine is Permanent.
It is also necessary that we who have decided to give our hearts to Jesus make a decision today and every single day of our natural lives—that we will not willingly commit sin—for we have the gift of God’s Holy Spirit sealing us forever, dwelling inside us, guiding our steps, our thoughts, our actions, and our words. So, may I and may you: “stand by your faith. [AND may I and may you] Do not be conceited, but fear;”
When the leader of the children of Israel was giving his farewell address, he took time to remind them of their worship, their service, and their dedication to the LORD.
“Joshua said to all the people,
(The Book of Joshua 24: 2a & 13b-14 NASB)
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
. . .
‘you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’
“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth;
and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,
and serve the LORD.”
Let us pause today to individually ASK ourselves—
- Where do I see God in my moments of my life?
- What other focuses (idols) steal my time, my mind, and my worship of the LORD?
- Right here, right now—TODAY—will I decide to serve my LORD?
- Can I identify the ways I have sinned against God?
- Where can I hand over my control of my life to God?
- Will I forsake all to Worship HIM?
May you and I WORSHIP the LORD today, SERVE the LORD specifically, and PRAY to our GOD throughout this day.