Spring has Sprung?

 

I went out to start the truck for Stephanie, to pull it out front, and the dashboard thermometer read 24 degrees. That might be spring time temperatures in Anchorage Alaska, but not Bluffton, Indiana. LOL. Stephanie and I looked at the typical highs and lows this time of the year. The average high is 58 and the low 36. LAST YEAR on this date it was 72 for the high. It is clear we are below normal and I can’t wait for warm weather to arrive, permanently. 

I started thinking more about spring this morning because I was reading about Abraham’s tree, the branched that broke off and the branches that were grafted in. The good news that spring is on the way is always the buds on the trees and you can definitely see the buds on trees everywhere. I just want you to know I am not one who complains when it gets REALLY HOT. I am better suited for 90-100 degree weather than I am temperatures nearing ZERO.

Romans 11 is a great discussion about Israel missing out on Jesus and how that affected them and the gentiles both.

“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.” (Romans 11:11-12)

I love this and didn’t notice it before. The end of that scripture says “WHEN they finally accept it.” YES, God’s people (ISRAEL) WILL accept the salvation God has to offer through his Son, Jesus Christ. isn’t that good news. This separation between Jew and Christian is not permanent. That is why it is so important to maintain such great relationship with the nation of Israel. Even if it is not true right now, WE ARE DESTINED TO BE ONE FAMILY UNDER JESUS CHRIST. 

Later in Romans 11, Paul talks about us being grafted in and the branches of the Jews breaking off. What another great thought. When a branch is grafted into a tree IT becomes an indistinguishable part of the tree. HALLELUJAH! As followers of Jesus Christ we are indistinguishable members of the root of Jesse, the family of God, his chosen people. Do you feel a part of the family of God? 

As springtime truly ends up SPRINGING we praise God for the gift of adoption into his sacred family by faith in Jesus Christ. May we grow more and more branches and continue to graft in branches from other trees, filling out the wonderful family as we approach the end of the age! We are a growing family and even some of those that rejected God in the past will turn to him. Growth of the Kingdom will be good for the entire tree!