Luke 13-7.18.22

Scripture

Luke‬ ‭13:8-9‬ ‭NLT

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus calls the people to repent from their sinfulness. In doing so, Jesus uses a parable of the barren fig tree to illustrate the importance of repentance. In this parable, a man planted a fig tree in his garden. The man comes day after day to see if this fig tree is bearing any fruits. But, each day he sees nothing blooming or growing. So, he tells his gardner that he has waited 3 years and he still hasn’t seen a single fig. So, he orders the gardener to cut it down. But, the gardener pleads with him to give it one more chance. The gardener says he will give this fig tree the special attention it needs, and give it plenty of fertilizer. But if nothing blossoms after a year, then he can cut it down.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Is my life producing any figs? Or am I just “wasting space” like the fig tree in this story, that deserves to be cut down.

As I read this parable, I looked at God as being the man who owned the garden. I saw the gardner as Jesus. Finally, I related myself as the fig tree. God, the creator of the universe and the reason why I exist, created me, to bring glory and honor to Him. I must bear fruit for Him. Unfortunately, my sinfulness prevents me from bearing any sort of fruit that can bring any glory and honor to God. My sinfulness deserves me being cut down, and taken out from the ground where I was planted. But Jesus, being the gardener, intervenes on my behalf. He gives me the special fertilizer and special one on one attention that I need so I can grow. (Jesus came to this earth to show me how to live, and He died for my sins so I can spend eternity with Him in the Father’s presence). So the rest is up to me. What am I going to do with the name of Jesus? What am I going to do with this “second chance”? Will my life bear fruit that will please God? Or am I just essentially “taking up space in this garden”, needing to be cut down and taken out because I’m not producing any kind of fruit?

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”-‭‭John‬ ‭15:8‬ ‭‬‬

“Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” -Colossians‬ ‭1:10

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” -Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23

Life Application

Live life with a purpose to bring glory and honor to God.

Father God, thank You for the second, third, and many chances You have given me in life. Thank You for sending Jesus to show me how to live. Thank You Jesus for dying for my sins. You intervened on my behalf so I wouldn’t be cut down and thrown out. I pray that my life produces the fruit that brings You glory and honor in Heaven. I pray that my life produces fruit that can feed others in need. May they find You as being the source of that fruit. May my life be filled with purpose. May it be to bring You all the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

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-Moses Gaddi‬ ‭‬‬