April 8 -- "Broken Branches"

 

Today’s Reading: Romans 11:19-36

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Like you were on the outside looking in, longing for something more? Maybe you’ve felt cut off—like a branch broken from the tree, withering, disconnected, unsure if you’d ever be restored. If so, you’re not alone.  And more importantly, you are not beyond God’s reach.

Paul paints a powerful picture in Romans 11, using the image of an olive tree. The people of Israel were like the natural branches, carefully planted and nurtured by God. But they rejected Jesus, and as a result, they were broken off.  Not cast away forever, but set aside for a time. There’s a deep ache that comes with being separated from something you were meant to be a part of.  That’s the sorrowful reality behind Paul’s metaphor. Israel, once securely attached to the olive tree of God’s covenant, was broken off because of unbelief.  

And here’s the stunning part—God took “wild branches,” the outsiders, the ones who never thought they had a place in His story, and grafted them in.  That means you. That means me. The concept of grafting is borrowed from horticulture, where a branch from one plant is attached to the rootstock of another, enabling them to grow together as one and share nutrients. Through this powerful analogy, Paul illustrates how Gentiles are brought into God's covenant promises and united with His people by faith in Christ.

Think about that. God didn’t just allow us in—He made the way for us to become part of His family, fully nourished by His promises, His presence, His grace. You were never meant to be lost and withering.  By your faith in Christ, He has grafted you into something eternal, something life-giving. And just as He invites you in, He longs to restore those who have walked away, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. Maybe you know someone—a loved one, a friend—who once flourished in faith but has since drifted away.

Don’t lose hope. Just as God can graft in the wild branch, He can restore what was broken. Let this truth sink in: You are not an afterthought.  You are not abandoned.  You are chosen, cherished, and connected to the very life of God through Jesus Christ.

May the Lord anchor your heart in His unshakable love. And may you rest in the security of His grace, knowing you are held, nurtured, and fully embraced in His family.