Romans 11:24 – Comfort or Zeal?
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Truth to Learn
Time is running out to show the fervency of our faith.
Behind the Words
The words “nature” and “natural” are from the Greek word phusis, which is derived from the verb phuō, meaning “to bring forth,” that is, “to give birth.” Phusis refers to the order of things which God has put in place in the natural world.
Meaning Explained
This verse is a summary statement of what Paul has been saying for the past seven verses. I don’t think I could express the meaning of this verse any better than Albert Barnes has in his Notes on the New Testament. Here’s what he said:
The meaning of this whole verse may be thus expressed; “If God had mercy on the Gentiles, who were outcasts from his favor, shall he not much rather on those who were so long his people, to whom had been given the promises, and the covenants, and the Law, whose ancestors had been so many of them his friends, and among whom the Messiah was born?” In some respects, there are facilities among the Jews for their conversion, which had not existed among the Gentiles. They worship one God; they admit the authority of revelation; they have the Scriptures of the Old Testament; they expect a Messiah; and they have a habit of professed reverence for the will of God.
There was a time when the fervency and passion for God among the Christian Church was as great as that of the Jewish people. However, in the past century the Christian Church has become comfortable, satisfied, and complacent. I think God’s message to the church in Laodicea written in the 3rd chapter of the book of The Revelation can be applied to many of our churches today. Here’s what He says:
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked’” (Revelation 3:14-17)
The day is coming, and now is, in which those who profess to be God’s people will be more concerned with earthly pleasures than with a close personal relationship with the God of all creation. We are more focused on exercising our own will than on seeking and submitting to God’s will for our lives.
Application
Are you comfortable in your Christian faith today? Are you satisfied with where you are in your walk with God? If so, I urge you to pray that God would light a fire of fervency in your spirit and create in you a searing zeal for serving Him in whatever manner He desires! Submit to Him and serve Him with all your heart. Please, I beg of you!
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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