Luke 13: 1-9
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices, Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all of the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on the fig tree and haven’t found any. ‘Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”
” ‘Sir, the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears no fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ “
A Thought
This scripture may have very well been speaking of the Jewish people, but it is now very true for us today. Circumstances that happen do not prove that we are any more or less sinners than others, but we all must repent or perish. Then Jesus goes further and to say that we should not only repent, but we should bear fruit.To bear fruit to me means that whatever we have received from Christ, we should share with others: If we have received love, we should give love; if we have received forgiveness, we should give forgiveness; if we have received God’s word, we should give God’s word; if we have been given much, we must give much. God expects all of us to repent, to keep growing in Jesus Christ and to produce fruit for his kingdom.
Our Prayer
Father we repent of our sins. Help us not to judge others, but to show them your love and forgiveness. We ask for you to lead us by your Holy Spirit to bear fruit for your kingdom in Jesus’ name, amen.
