A Broke Evangelist

December 2, 2024

Romans 11:22-24

God's Purpose in Israel's Rejection 

“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. 23 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!”

I have to say, the sheer artistry of political lying these days is something to behold. Honestly, politicians could teach masterclasses in bending the truth: "Lying for Dummies," "Advanced Fibbing 301," and, of course, the capstone course, "Gaslighting the Masses for Political Gain."

Take political promises, for example. They’re like New Year’s resolutions: bold, ambitious, and utterly doomed. Sure, politicians promise us the moon, the stars, and a free Keurig for every kitchen, but let’s be real—by the time they’re sworn in, even delivering on free napkins seems a stretch.

Donald Trump, for instance, promised us a wall—a big, beautiful wall—and even spiced it up with the claim that Mexico would foot the bill. But what we got was a fraction of a wall and a big, fat IOU from Mexico. Turns out, convincing another country to Venmo you for a wall is harder than it looks. It’s not Trump’s fault. He had the Democrats saying no at every turn, and he also had people in his own administration undermining him as well.

So, it would be nice to think that politicians can learn by now. Maybe start with a humble disclaimer, something like: "This is purely aspirational; don’t hold me to it," or "Hey, folks, I’ll try, but Congress is about as cooperative as a cat on a leash.” But no, they keep on making promises as if they’re handing out free samples at Costco. And when promises inevitably flop? Enter stage left: “You took it out of context!” Oh, please. At this point, the phrase “out of context” is the political version of, “The dog ate my homework.”

Speaking of excuses, let’s chat about ol’ Joe Biden. It was just a few months ago when he was asked if he would pardon his son, Hunter, for all those felonies for which he was found guilty. He didn’t even give one of those word-salad answers like his VP gives regularly, when “unburdened by what has been.”  His answer: “NO.” No meandering, no history lesson, no example of how he was raised in a middle-class family.  He just said, “no.” Listening to the legacy media fawning over his “integrity” of how he was committed to the rule of law and Trump was an evil meanie, you’d think they were ready to build a monument to him or carve his face on Mount Rushmore alongside the others.

Instead, the media, as if they were on cue, led with stories of how the Republicans were pouncing on the story, rather than cover the story itself. Joe was totally in the pinky promise with no takeback mode, and then promptly broke his promise, leaving us all sitting here saying to each other, “Did he just…? Oh no, he didn’t… Yep, he did!” The audacity is almost impressive. Almost.

Meanwhile, regular folks are sitting in jail for peacefully protesting, or, as politicians like to call it, “A crime against democracy!” Many people have their bank accounts attached if they have back taxes, or even doing time for far less of a tax bill. But, when we keep score on our own, we can find that lying to the public and bending the rules are apparently only okay if you’re in politics.

Let’s hope the next administration comes in with a giant mop, a bucket, and a resolve to clean up this mess. Or at least hand out some free Keurigs.

Fortunately, there is always the One we can count on to be truthful with us every day, and we’ll see more about Him in Romans 11:22-24…

Romans 11:22 - 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. 

So, Paul is handing out life advice like a favorite wise uncle, the one who sneaks us snacks during family reunions but also lectures us on the dangers of not flossing. Here in Romans 11:22, he’s got a dual-edged message: “Check it, folks, God’s got two modes: kind and stern. He’s like the ultimate parent—overflowing with love and generosity, but don’t even think about trying to pull a fast one, because the ‘stern dad’ voice is locked and loaded.” Paul is basically saying, “Look, God’s kindness is yours, but only if you stay on the path and keep up the relationship. So, no ghosting allowed!” It’s like being grafted onto the most glorious tree ever—a divine super-tree with infinite spiritual Wi-Fi. But if we decide to stop connecting? Snip, snip. God’s pruning shears are no joke.

Now, some folks might panic and shout, “Oh no! Is this some kind of spiritual merit badge system? Do I have to earn my spot on the tree by being good enough?” Paul’s here with a big can of “chill out!” This isn’t about a salvation-by-works treadmill, where we’re constantly sweating to stay on. Nope, it’s about staying plugged into God’s grace. We’re not “earning” the juice; we’re just not yanking our plug out of the outlet.

Paul’s point is echoed by Jesus in John 15:1-8. There, Jesus is the Vine, and we’re the branches. If we’re abiding in Him, we’re like a well-watered houseplant in a sunny spot—thriving, growing, bearing fruit. But if we decide to take a vacation from the vine? Well, we might end up like that shriveled bouquet someone forgot to toss after prom.

Let’s break this down with a modern analogy: We’re on God’s family cell plan. We’ve got unlimited minutes of grace, an unbreakable signal, and free roaming in the kingdom. But if we stop answering God’s texts and wander off into a metaphorical wilderness of no signal, we’re kind of cutting ourselves off. God’s still there, waving His phone around, waiting for us to reconnect, but we’ve got to stay in range. So, Paul and Jesus are essentially teaming up to tell us, “Don’t be a branch-flake. Stay connected. God’s kindness is the best deal you’ll ever get, and all He asks is that you don’t pack up and leave the vineyard.” It’s not about perfection—it’s about staying in the zone of His goodness, where spiritual growth and fruit-bearing are not just possible but inevitable.

Now, if we’re real, life has its moments where we feel like a branch in a hurricane, barely clinging to the vine. That’s okay. Just don’t let go. God’s got the kindness. He’s got the strength. You just need to hang tight and trust the process. And we need to remember that when we feel like we’re slipping, just picture Paul and Jesus standing there with a gentle reminder: “Stay rooted, stay fruity, and keep abiding.”

Romans 11:23 - And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.  

As mentioned before in days past, Gentile believers are sitting around feeling smug. They’re like, “Look at us now…who’s God’s favorite? Israel? Sorry, rejected, cast off, waved bye-bye at them. God has moved on, and now tell us who has two thumbs and is wearing the new VIP bracelet? Us guys!” (with two arms raised pointing thumbs at chest). It’s like they were on a spiritual version of a talent show, and they thought Israel had just gotten the big buzzer while they advanced to the finals. Maybe they were even practicing their victory speeches: “We’d like to thank God for picking us, the Gentiles, as His new favorites. We promise to do better than those other guys!”

But then, in walks Paul, and you just know he’s about to flip over the snack table. He’s like, “Hold up, hold up, hold up. You think Israel is finished? You think God just swiped left and moved on? Slow your roll, my Gentile friends!” Yes, Paul is there to burst their bubble in the gentlest, yet firmest, way possible. “Listen,” he says, “don’t get cocky. You didn’t replace Israel. God’s plan is bigger than your own imaginary greatness.”

Paul has receipts. He knows that God doesn’t ghost His people, not even when they’ve made some big mistakes. Sure, Israel rejected the gospel for now, but God’s relationship with them isn’t over. It’s more like a dramatic soap opera where the main characters have some issues to work through, but they’re not getting written out of the script. And Paul sees this Gentile pride for what it really is: spiritual arrogance. He’s like, “You are acting like you’re the shiny new toy God just unboxed, but let’s not forget where you came from. You were adopted into this family, grafted onto the olive tree. So maybe stop with the ‘Israel is done’ narrative before you get a reality check.”

If Paul had a mic, he’d drop it right about now. But instead, he keeps it real and reminds them: “God’s promises don’t expire. They’re not yogurt. Israel’s still got a future in this plan, and you’re just lucky to be along for the ride. So let’s all stay humble, okay?”

Imagine the Gentiles sitting there, looking at their sandals, trying to avoid eye contact. Lesson learned: Don’t count Israel out, don’t get too full of yourself, and maybe put those victory speeches back in the drawer. God’s story isn’t finished yet, and there’s room for everyone at the table. So, Paul’s message in a nutshell? “Stay in your lane, appreciate the invite, and don’t get ahead of God’s plan. He’s still got surprises up His sleeve.” Classic Paul, keeping it real while keeping it divine.

Romans 11:24 - 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!”

So, the Gentiles got grafted into God’s “tree” like pros. It’s like watching a first-time gardener miraculously plant a seed and end up with a giant apple tree the next day. Everyone’s looking around like, “Wait, how did they just slide in the winner’s circle so easily?” Paul is here to remind us of something important: If the Gentiles—let’s call them the “wild branches”—could graft onto God’s tree so effortlessly, just imagine how much easier it will be for the natural branches (Israel) to hop back on. It’s like reinviting the original band members to their reunion tour. They know all the songs, the choreography, and exactly where to plug in the amps.

Now, let’s not forget the fruit. Those natural branches? Oh, they’ve got serious potential. We’re talking about orchard-level fruit-bearing. If the wild branches can produce anything at all, the natural branches are basically the VIPs of the produce world. They’re the ones who’ve been in the divine soil business from the beginning—they’ve got the deep roots, the history, and the OG covenant credentials. Imagine God as the ultimate gardener, walking around with a pair of pruning shears and a glimmer in His eye. He’s like, “Oh, these natural branches? Easy-peasy. Just a little snip-snip, and they’re back where they belong. And watch out—once they’re back on, this tree is going to be so loaded with fruit, it’ll make the Garden of Eden jealous.”

But here’s something to think about: God’s tree isn’t your average backyard project. It’s not limited by space, time, or the kind of stubborn branches that refuse to cooperate. It’s a tree that thrives on grace, forgiveness, and second chances. And if wild branches can join the party and natural branches can come back home, then clearly, this is no ordinary tree. It’s the ultimate comeback story, a reunion tour for the ages, and a cosmic produce extravaganza all rolled into one.

So, Paul’s message here is once again intended for the Gentiles, for them to not get too big-headed for their own good. If they could graft in, then the natural branches have got this. And when they do, this tree is going to bear so much fruit, they would need a wheelbarrow just to keep up. So, they might as well get ready to harvest together. And with that, Paul drops the metaphorical mic—or maybe the pruning shears—and leaves us to marvel at the divine gardening skills that make anything possible.

Summary:

What does this mean for us? Simple: Stop stressing about trying to be some kind of spiritual Olympic gymnast vaulting over the “grafting bar.” We’re already in! We’ve been grafted into God’s tree, and there’s no audition tape or skill test required. We don’t need to sweat it out thinking, “Am I vine-worthy?” Spoiler alert: we already made the cut.

Now that we’re grafted in, the secret sauce isn’t in working harder or frantically waving our spiritual leaves to impress anyone. No, the real magic happens when we let the graft do its thing. Imagine God as the master gardener who grafted you in perfectly—zero duct tape involved. All we have to do is stay plugged in, and before we know it, bam, there’s fruit in our life.

And we’re not talking about basic fruit like a sad grocery store banana. We’re talking next-level fruit: joy so juicy it drips; peace so plump it fills our hearts and love so sweet it’s basically the spiritual equivalent of chocolate-covered strawberries. This is the kind of fruit that makes our lives not just bearable but totally worthwhile—like we’re living in a highlight reel of the best moments ever.

The key is to just stay plugged in! It’s like being a lamp: our job isn’t to generate electricity; it’s to stay connected to the power source. Otherwise, we’re just a fancy decoration sitting in the dark. Nobody wants to be the lamp that forgot how to light up.

So, relax. Enjoy the fact that we’re part of this epic tree. By letting God’s goodness flow through us, soon we’ll be so fruitful, people might start asking if we’ve been taking spiritual vitamins. Just stay connected to the vine, let the graft work its magic, and get ready to shine—because this life, when lived plugged into God’s power, is absolutely worth it.

Just like Donald Trump says, “We’re going to get so tired of winning!” But that’s no lie, when we look at it from God’s vision!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – December 2, 2024

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