From Deadwood to Wonder
Romans 11:22
Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you will be cut off.
Paul explained to the church at Rome that Israel’s unbelief caused them to be cut off from the olive tree of God’s kingdom. Because of their unbelief, God grafted in the Gentiles as branches. His kindness is designed to lead us to repentance, and as long as we remain in that kindness, we remain in Him.
Unbelief works as a virus to cause a branch to die, creating deadwood. Deadwood will only drain the living branches. In order to keep the entire tree healthy, God will prune away the deadwood in order to preserve what is still thriving. Since He is a miracle working God, He can also graft back in any dead limb that repents and turns to Him.
Expect God to prune away any branches in your own life that are dead and draining those that still have life. While it may be painful, He is actually preserving you. If you feel you are nothing but deadwood, know today that our God is a restoring God. He has the ability to graft deadwood back into the tree and cause it to live and flourish again. Hallelujah!
If you are struggling with unbelief today, simply repent and turn to God. Joel 2:25-26 gives us an amazing promise that God will restore what the locusts have eaten in our lives. The deadwood we have created can be restored! Verse 26 tells us that He deals wondrously with us. The Message translation explains it further: The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder.
God still wants to amaze you. He will deal wondrously with you. Believe Him today for the restoration you need. He extends His kindness to anyone who seeks Him, and that includes you.
Have a blessed day!