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OceanSide church of Christ

Read devotionals for August 2026

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September 1, 2026

Romans 11:14 – If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Thought: The word “emulation” is not commonly used. Strong defines the word as: “to stimulate alongside” or “to excite to rivalry.” Paul was having great success in his mission of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. It was his hope that this would “provoke to emulation them which are my flesh,” that is, the Jews. Paul thought that seeing the Gentiles accept the Christ would cause the Jews to be exited to rivalry and some would be saved.

Acts 21:17-20

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September 2, 2026

Romans 11:15 – For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall be the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Thought: The gospel was spoken to the Jews first. The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem and then in Judea. However, the Jews did not readily accept the Christ. Thus, the apostles turned to the Gentiles. Paul noted that this “casting away” of the Jews brought reconciliation to the world. Paul now imagined what would happen if the Jews turned to the Christ. “What shall the receiving of them be?” He answers: “…but life from the dead.”

Acts 9:31

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September 3, 2026

Romans 11:16 – For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Thought: Paul uses two illustrations to make an important point. The firstfruits were the first yields of a harvest. These were to be dedicated to God as an offering. If the firstfruits were holy, then the lump, that is, the remaining portion of the harvest was holy also. The same was true with a root. If it were holy, the branches were holy as well. The Jews had their fruitsfruits as converts to Christianity. Others could obey and be accepted as well.

Acts 2:41

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September 4, 2026

Romans 11:17 – And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were graffed in among them, and with them partest of the root and fatness of the olive tree.

Thought: Paul describes the conversion of the Gentiles to Christianity in a very unique way. He reveals that they were a wild olive tree. There was a time when they were not the people of God at all. However, after the Jews rejected the gospel, presented here as branches that were broken off, the Gentiles were offered the gospel. Thus, the wild olive tree was graffed into a relationship with God. They became partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree.

Acts 10:44-48

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September 5, 2026

Romans 11:18 – Boast not thyself against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thought: Because the Jews rejected the Christ, the Gentiles were given a wonderful opportunity to be grafted into the vine. Their acceptance could cause them to be lifted up and boast against the branches, the Jews. Paul warns them against this. They were blessed, but they were not the source of their blessing. They did not bear the root. The root bore them. That root was Jesus Christ. Self-perspective is important as a child of God.

John 15:5

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