Take heed lest he also spare not thee

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.


I can't help but think of step children when I think of this passage. You've all probably heard about people adopting a child and then a short while later having a child by natural means. Usually it happens accidentally. A couple try and try to no avail and then when they finally stop trying because they've adopted a child that's when they realize that long sought dream of having their own. What happens when this occurs? The ideal situation is the couple love the children equally, raise them equally and all is well. Unfortunately it's natural for parents to lean towards their own blood child, the fruit of their own loins. People will say blood is stronger always and in a lot of ways it's true. We feel more affection, more loyalty towards our blood relatives.


God chose Israel to be His people then because they turned on God- because they chose not to follow His ways God had to separate Himself from them- they were broken off. We have to live by faith. We cannot not be presumptuous as children of God by faith, grafted in, not natural children but adopted. The Bible tells us not to be highminded- we can't take on airs at all. We need to fear God in a way that no other feared Him knowing that God is an exacting God and won't spare us any more than He spared Israel. Truly we have to live by pure faith and live it to the fullest in Christ trusting in Christ for salvation through His grace, through His righteousness.


Let's ever keep before us the fear of God in reverence and in awe, in the knowledge of His all consuming love and all that entails fully.


By His mercy, His grace.


Amen.