Kindness

When I read this verse, I was a little caught off guard by the statement where Paul says, “sternness to those who fell” and “you will also be cut off.” Trying to decipher what was being said, I started reading the surrounding text. In the previous verses, Paul talks about how each of us, as individuals, are “grafted in” to the holy branches because of your faith.

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I read this to mean that there are those that fall off the tree for various reasons and, we, that are growing in our faith are given a place in the tree. So, the sternness entails those who lose faith or step outside the realm of God and are broken off from the tree…

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But then I thought we are told God is a forgiving God. So, I read past the quoted verse (11:22) and sure enough right below in verse (11:23), Paul states that those that fell off for unbelief can be “grafted in” again.

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The bottom line is that God holds us all accountable for our actions. If we are unfaithful there is sternness that he delivers upon us. If we are faithful to his word, then his kindness is bestowed upon us.

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The great news is that even if we fall short God has infinite kindness and we are allowed to be “re-grafted” into the tree…

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Remember, it takes a long time to grow old friends… be blessed