"For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
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?
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."
Romans 11:21-27
This reminds me of Jacob 5, talking about olive trees and grafting, so good things to read together. Specifically it is talking about Gentiles compared to Israelites in the Lord's vineyard, but overall, the message here is about not judging others. No one should be calling out God's chosen people... but really, we don't have the right to call out *anyone,* right? Trying to say that we are better because God has blessed us and not someone else is a very weak position... one that can be turned around due to the very boast, since just by doing that we've slipped into some sinful pride.
Today, let's make sure we aren't saying, or believing, that we are better than others because of our blessings. Let's take heed, and let our righteousness commend us to God, and not try to build our foundation upon those we step on or criticize instead. That's never a good way to climb.
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