Romans 11:13-24
Today’s readings include verses from Jeremiah and Romans which remind us what it means to be God’s people. As I’ve point out before, God promised to make Abraham a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). Today we catch a glimpse of what that means.
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,” says Jeremiah, “and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). It does no good for God’s people to remove themselves from the world. Quite the contrary, they are to seek what is good for the world so that the world may be a good place for everyone. This is part of what it means to be a blessing, to challenge others to be their best, demonstrating the mutuality of life in community.
In Romans Paul is writing to Gentiles but speaking about the role of the Hebrew people. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you” (Romans 11:17-18). In this case, the ever-widening growth of believers is dependent on a foundation of faith first established in the people of Israel. Abraham’s children are to bless those being added to their number through Christ, not rejecting them but welcoming them into full fellowship.
Christians today stand in this line of faith. It is now our calling to challenge the world to be a place of goodness for all people. We are also to welcome and nurture those being added to our number. In these ways, and others, we demonstrate what it means to bless others even as we are blessed by God.
Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to those around us; help us to care for them and to bless them in your name. Amen.
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