Don’t Get Caught in Branches of Argument

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? (Romans 11:24)

We, who were once wild by nature, have been grafted into the family of God as sons and daughters of God. Understanding my family of faith includes the Jewish people, I make it a point every single day to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I pray for the Jewish people, and as a ministry, we have made the point to financially support the Jewish people every day. The Lord has blessed us because of it. He promised to do so in His Word.

Now, some refuse to help the Jewish people because they say that way back in their genealogy, they are a part of the “lost tribe” of Israel. When someone says that I always respond, “What does that have anything to do with it?” If you are a part of a lost tribe, fine. What about the other tribes? What about God’s people who are going through persecution and attacks by trying to stand for the land that God promised them?

See, just as some can miss the essence of faith by clinging to labels and divisions, it's easy to get entangled in endless and fruitless debates that miss the core message. God's truth transcends nationality, ethnicity, and pride. It's about being firmly rooted in His love, and allowing His Word to graft us into a new way of life.

So, let's be cautious of getting caught up in the branches of argument. Instead, let's focus on the root — Jesus. Let's live out the reality of being grafted into Him, allowing His life to flow through us. As we do, we'll find unity, strength, and the sweet fruits of His Spirit flourishing in and through us.

Practical Application

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It’s imperative that we intercede for our brothers and sisters in faith, and God promises us peace and blessings when we do so.

Genesis 12:3; Psalm 122:6

The Law Fulfilled

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17)

From time to time, I still get people who ask why we don’t have church on Saturdays. That’s a legitimate question for someone who is new to the faith. I explain to them that attending church on Saturday is correct for someone who is still under the Old Covenant. However, we are no longer under the Old Covenant. We are thankful for it and learn from it, but we also have the revelation that we are a part of a better covenant. As believers in the New Covenant, we stand on the foundation of Judaism's spiritual heritage with gratitude, knowing it was all pointing to Jesus.

Jesus is the total completion of the law's purpose. He is the Living Embodiment of the law's intent, and the fulfillment of every prophecy and promise. Yet, He goes beyond just completing the Law; He perfects it. His life, death, and resurrection breathe life into the law.

Paul explained that the law was a schoolmaster giving lessons to guide us to the ultimate revelation: faith in Jesus. We should be thankful for the role the law held in illuminating our path to the Messiah.

How beautiful is the rich story God created by weaving together the Old and the New into a full story of redemption and love!

Practical Application

By no means does New Testament revelation mean that we do away with the Old Covenant. We are called to read the Old Testament with honor, understanding the timeless principles that God outlines in His Word. When you read the law in the Old Testament, do so with the New Covenant in mind and with an attitude of honor and gratitude for what Jesus has provided to those who call on His name.

Romans 8:4; Psalm 40:6

The Heart of the Law

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:23-24)

The religious leaders meticulously observed minor things in the law, such as tithing even the smallest of the herbs, but they didn’t even mention the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. Their zeal for outward displays of holiness blinded them to the heart-transforming principles that were the point of God’s law.

In our modern context, it's easy to become ensnared in a similar religious rut. We might prioritize religious routines or rituals (even as Word of Faith people) and become passionate about them while overlooking what God is trying to teach and tell us now. Just like the old idiom of straining a gnat and swallowing a camel, we risk losing sight of the very foundation that our faith stands on. So, how can we avoid this pitfall? How can we ensure that our spirituality is rooted in the weightier matters of the law and not simply religious practices?

First, let us focus on justice. Let's stand up against injustice wherever we find it, and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves with compassion and the truth of God’s Word.

Second, let's embrace mercy. God showed mercy to you when you did not deserve it and so should we do so for others, regardless of their shortcomings. Choose forgiveness over judgment and understanding over condemnation.

Last, we need to have unwavering faith. Hear God's Word, receive God’s Word, believe it, speak it and act on it. Allow it to change our hearts and guide our actions, empowering us to live lives rooted in truth, not rituals.

Practical Application

Look for opportunities to show mercy to those around you. Be kind when someone is rude, and give help when someone is acting frustrated. Decide to show the mercy that God showed you.

Matthew 23:16; Luke 6:7