New Testament | Romans 11:13-24 (with Tom Gastil)

Opening Song:
God Be by Chris Renzema

Lyrics:
God be my vision be my holy truth
Yeah I'll be the branches if You'll be the root
I'd give all my freedom I'd become a slave
To lay on Your shore and be washed by Your waves
To lay on Your shore and be washed by Your waves

I don't care for riches nor man's empty praise
'Cause You're all I want for all of my days
I'd give all my money I'd throw it away
To stand in Your presence
And feel the light of Your face
To stand in Your presence
And feel the light of Your face

('Cause) (And) all I want is You You know
'Cause through the joy of letting go
Yeah I've found my peace I've found my hope
I've found my home
Yeah all I want is You You know
'Cause through the joy of letting go
Yeah I've found my peace I've found my hope
I've found my home

God be my treasure Lord be my reward
Be my holy Jesus what I'm fighting for
I'd give all my history just to stand at Your door
To knock and hear enter you're an orphan no more
To knock and hear enter you're an orphan no more

Yeah I've found my peace I've found my hope
I've found my home
Yeah I've found my peace I've found my hope
I've found my home

Passage:
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root[a] of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Musical Reflection:
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” tune by Robert Jackson

Reflection Notes:
TRENTHAM is a tune by Robert Jackson, an English composer during the nineteenth century. It fits perfectly with the text for “Breath On Me, Breath of God,” by Edwin Hatch; each phrase is allotted ample space for reflection.

Prayer:
This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.