Romans 11:13-24

Be Still: Lord, I take time to still myself in your presence. Speak to me as I spend time in your Word. Amen

Read: Romans 11:13-24

'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, 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.' (v17-18)

Encounter: I recently came across a video showing a gardener taking a graft of a white hibiscus flower plant and embedding it in a pink flowered hibiscus. It was fascinating watching how meticulously the gardener cut the plants at the right angle, bandaged them together and waited a few weeks for the graft to produce another plant with multiple colours, some white, some pink and others a beautiful peach – grafted together they created a dazzling array of flowers. 

When Paul talks of the wild olive shoot in this reading, he is referring to the Gentiles. They were grafted into the family of God through a gift of grace. The practice of olive farming was to prune off old branches and graft wild shoots into the original plant, causing the plant to revive and produce more fruit. The Gentiles were being reminded that they were now part of a new family that was sustained and nourished by the roots. They could not count themselves better than those that came before. 

When we become part of God’s family, we are nourished and sustained by those that have gone before or are more mature in the faith. They teach, nurture, and guide us. Then, with time and commitment, we too become mature in faith and can teach those that come after us what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Apply: Are there people in your life who can mentor you, walk alongside you, and encourage you? Could you approach them and ask? Are you ready to mentor and encourage someone? 

Devote: Father thank you that when we live a life for you, we become part of a family. Help me to find people who can mentor me and walk alongside me. Show me if there is someone I can pour time, prayer and love into, supporting them on their journey with you.