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Grafted!


          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.  You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:17-21) 

          If you believe that the Bible is God’s Word, then your life will change. You may not notice, or you might despair at the slowness if that faltering growth, but belief always produces growth. That which does not grow dies. It might look harsh that God would break off branches of Israel, but out assumption tends to be that the branches broken off are big, green, beautiful and full of life, when in fact, they are diseased or dead. Leaving them attached does neither them, nor the plant any good.
          Those who graft in new branches in a physical tree hope that the branch will live and grow as part of the tree. For a new branch to think it’s better than the rest of the tree is ridiculous, because the only way the new branch can survive is by depending on the tree. If the branch fails to grow, it can be removed just like the original branch was and if some part of the original branch is saved, it can be grafted back in. Don’t catch their illness that killed the original branches.

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