For years now there is something I’ve really wanted to do but never attempted. Since I learned about it, I’ve always wanted to graft a tree branch onto another tree. Horticulturalists can do this to improve the quality of their produce or to grow more fruit on a hardy, disease-resistant tree. With some care and skill, the gardener can cut a branch from its own tree and splice it into a branch on another tree, where it will grow and produce its fruit. Of course, there are some limits to grafting—you cannot graft a branch onto just any tree—but when working within the same family of plants, an arborist can use grafting to achieve a healthier, stronger crop on his fruit trees.

Paul used an analogy from grafting to encourage the Christians in Rome to keep the faith and continue believing in Christ Jesus. Paul’s analogy uses an olive tree to represent God’s chosen people. His analogy describes the change that came with the dawn of the New Covenant. Under the New Covenant, being a descendant of Abraham has nothing to do with belonging to God’s covenant; but having the same kind of faith that Abraham exhibited has everything to do with being a member of God’s covenant. Thus, when Jesus was rejected by the majority of the Jews, God rejected them for their unbelief. They were like branches broken off from the tree, symbolizing that they no longer belonged among God’s people. And Gentile Christians who put their faith in Jesus were welcomed into God’s people, even though they were not descended from Abraham.

“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 of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches… They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast though faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and 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” (Romans 11:17-22).

The point Paul is making is that none of us deserve a spot on the olive tree. The Jews who refused to believe in Jesus were cut off, and Gentile Christians who did believe in Jesus were graciously grafted into the tree. We belong to God’s people not because of how good we are, but because of how good God is. Only when we put our trust in Christ can we receive God’s gracious gift and belong to his people. Christian, resolve to never let your identity as a child of God lead you to be prideful or arrogant. You’re not in God’s family because you deserve it, but because God is gracious. Praise God, who was gracious enough to graft us into his family.