Thursday, August 26, 2021
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Author
Kate Culver
Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is a beautiful example of the emphasis Paul places on God’s mercy and the breadth to which it extends. He does this by using the image of an olive tree. Branches from a cultivated tree have broken off, like the nonbelievers have broken away from Israel. Wild olive tree branches are grafted onto the cultivated tree in their place, like the new Christians grew in to fill out the broken places. What crazy looking trees those must be! But how amazing that the root of God’s love and mercy is strong enough to cultivate such diverse and infinite life.
For me, this passage is about how strong our faith and church can be when it accepts that it takes all kinds to keep the community growing strong. In the Bible, people laugh and cry, lie and steal, praise, wonder, repent, come to faith, and strive in hundreds of ways to try and find where they belong. In those moments when I feel alone in the world, I try to root myself in God’s love to realize once again that I am part of something bigger, even if it is a weird looking olive tree like the Presbyterian Church can be sometimes.
Summer Devotional
God Goes With Us
This summer’s devotional is a walk through the Bible. Join our pastors and staff for daily reflections on scripture passages from Genesis to Revelation. In the beginning, God said, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Come and see how this covenant promise changes through time yet remains steadfast from generation to generation.
Each Sunday, Chris Holmes will share a short message on the texts for the week, and written reflections will go out every Monday through Thursday morning.
We wish you blessings and deeper faith this summer!
