Shine Brightly

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Romans 11:24

There aren't many olive trees growing in my area except the wild olives (top frame). We don't harvest them but my daughter has been in Italy and participated in the olive harvest there in October. I wonder if we could grow the cultivated olives here since the wild ones will grow. 

In Romans, Paul says we Gentiles are like wild olives grafted into the tame olives, tame olives being the Jews. We partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Who might that root be and what might be the fatness? Jesus is the root and stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11 ) and the Holy Spirit is the fat or oil. 

Zechariah 4 speaks of the two olive trees that pour out their oil into one candlestick fashioned like a menorah. The root bears the tree (Romans 11) therefore the root must be Jesus who bears the two trees and the oil being the Holy Spirit who lights up the candlestick. 

Matthew 5:16 tells us to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. 

What better way to let our lights shine than through the church? One candle gives light but a menorah of candles shines brightly. 

Hey Kids:

Do you have olives in your area?
What are other things about the olive you might see as representative of Jesus or the church or things the church does?

Are there other things in your area that are used as symbols in the Bible?
Look up John 15.
What does John say about us and Jesus?
Do you know a song that contains these symbols?

We would love for you to share your discoveries with us.

Blessings,

Gail