Arrogant Faith

"Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;"  Rom. 11:20


The Greek word Phroneo is used 6 times in the book of Romans.  Apparently, I am going to be in this book for awhile.  We examined chapter 8 last time...and it was hugely popular!!  Thank you to all who read it :)  I pray that it spoke to you where you are.  

In chapter 11 of Romans, Paul answers the question of whether God has cut off the Jewish people forever.  I read it at least 5 times.  In 5 different versions.  

In the KJV (King James Version), the word used for conceited is hypsēlophroneō which is translated " to be high minded; proud."  The definition for Phroneo that fits here is "to think; to not let one's opinion (though just) of himself exceed the bounds of modesty".  

So let's unpack Rom. 11...

Paul starts this part of his letter to the Romans with the question "God has not rejected his own people, has He?"  He then explains that NO...God always leaves a remnant.  A small group of Jewish believers of the gospel.  It is a small group until the time comes that all the Gentiles have heard and believed (that's us) and Christ returns to reclaim His people, the Jews, for Himself.  

Paul's warning here for us Gentiles is to not become arrogant that WE are given grace and grafted into the family of God and THEY are being pruned out for unbelief.  

God hates pride.  He hates arrogance.  He hates conceit.  Lucifer was thrown out of Heaven for it.  When harvested in our lives, it will puff us up...keep us from relationship with our Father...make us intolerable to be around...and give us an opinion of ourselves that exceeds modesty.

And make no mistake, God really hates it when you pick on His kids!  

This word from God really made me examine my own attitude toward His chosen people.  Do I pray for them?  That they would come to know Jesus, the Messiah they so anxiously wait for? Or do I look down on them because they had the Messiah in their midst and missed it?  Do I think they are beyond God's reach?  Am I arrogant about the grace I've been given?

I have been grafted into God's vine.  He will just as easily prune me if I begin to think too highly of myself.  

Paul's instructions to us are to fear.  I think we could all use a healthy dose of the fear of the Lord!  In fact, I KNOW we don't fear him enough.  This is the same God who torched Sodom and Gomorrah for the same behavior that we see going on in our own country!  The same God who flooded the entire earth.  The same God who sent an earthquake and ripped the veil in the temple from top to bottom the moment His Son took his last breath on earth.  

We live our lives like He doesn't care how we act...that He looks the other way because we are covered by the blood of Jesus.  But He doesn't!  I promise you. 

Growing up, there was a lot I didn't do because of the healthy fear my parent's placed in me...it was a spatula and it hung on the wall.  They hardly ever had to use it because I feared and respected that spatula and what it represented. 

This year, I want to have a healthier fear and respect for God's views on my life.  To not be "high minded"  but to place my mind on higher things.  That includes praying for God's chosen people to come to know Him.  Will ya join me????