Day 16 - Grafted to the Root

I found this second part of Romans to be full of wisdom.  Almost everything that I underlined could fall under the "Words to live by" category.

Sent to Preach
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

When I read this I thought, "this would be a good wall poster."  To me this is encouragement to be the one to spread the good news.  The verses are laid out in reverse chronological order.  God sends us to preach. Those we preach to hear. Those who hear will believe. Then those who believe can call on Jesus.  More and more I feel like one who has been sent to preach.  Maybe not occupational preaching, but at least being a witness for other people, believers and nonbelievers alike.

Grafted to the Root
Romans 11:16-24 relates our relationship with God to that of being branches on an olive tree.  We can be fully supported by the root, or we can be cut off completely.  If we were never a part of the tree, we can be grafted in.  The part that caught my eye was this:

"And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." Romans 11:23

This was speaking to those who had already been cut off.  I know at some point I had cut myself off of that tree and to know that God can graft me in again is so amazing!

Instructions
Some of my favorite verses are the ones that give you plain instructions on how to act.  Romans 12:9-21 has a ton of this advice.  I linked it there in that last sentence, if you want to open it up.  There is really too much there for me to touch on each verse, so if you haven't read it I encourage you to do so.  Here is the first and last verse from that section:

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

To the Weak of Faith
In Romans 14:1-3 and 15:1-4, Paul provides guidance on how to treat those who are weak in faith.

"Accept those whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters." Romans 14:1

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. We should all please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 15:1-2

In today's terms, these people are our "target audience".  These are the people that we need to give some attention to.  These are the people that need to be saved from an eternity separated from God.  These are the people that need us, whether they know it or not.

Wrap it up!
That's all my notes for Day 16.  It's day 18 as I write this.  I am BEHIND in my reading!!  To get caught up, I'm going to have to read and journal for Days 17 & 18 today.  Then read and journal for days 19 & 20 tomorrow.  Not an impossible task, but a hefty one!