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GRAFTED IN (ROMANS 11:17-25)

REFLECTION

“Grafted in” is the theme for our reflection. Grafted in is a horticultural practice. It is the act of placing a portion of one plant (bud or scion) into or on a stem, root, or branch of another (stock) in such a way that a union will be formed and the partners will continue to grow. The part of the combination that provides the root is called the stock; the added piece is called the scion.  We shall reflect on the fact that we have been grafted into Christ so we shall experience eternal life through faith.

Beloved in the Lord, like the Gentiles we must allow ourselves to be grafted in Christ so that we shall be saved. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, “If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Romans 11:17-20 Paul liken the unbelieving Jews to branches of the cultivated olive tree that have fallen off and he liken the Gentiles to be hitherto undesirable wild olive shoot that have been grafted in the very place the unbelieving Jews fell off. By virtue of the grafting in of the Gentiles into the cultivated olive tree they now receive nutrient for their growth or development. Dear friends in the Lord, Jesus in our cultivate olive tree who is sustain us when remain grafted in Him through faith.

Beloved in the Lord we have been saved or grafted in Christ by grace. We must never take God’s grace and mercy upon us for granted. We must not relent or become complacent but remain grafted in Christ in obedience, faith and dedication to His teachings. Paul admonished us, “Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.²² Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” (Romans 11:20-22) In other word, let us not take the grace of God for granted. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2) We called to bear fruit that reflect the perfect image of Christ be cause we have been grafted in Him.

Beloved in the Lord, because the Lord is merciful, He continue to show mercy to those who have fallen off. It is for this reason Paul wrote, And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! (Romans 11:23-24). Although Paul was talking about the repentance and forgiveness of the unbelieving Jews, the same assurance goes to those of us who were Christians but have backslidden or have turn away from Jesus. The assurance is that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Like the prodigal son, the Lord is waiting to embrace and restore us. Like the horticulturalist, he ready to cut us from the wild olive shoot that is characterised with the life of sin, addiction, disobedience and death to a nutrient-rich cultivated olive tree which characterised with righteousness, productivity, faith wisdom and growth.

In summary, we have discovered that we shall be saved if we remain crafted in Christ through faith.

PRAYER
May the Holy Spirit empower us to remain grafted in Christ. Amen.