I am half way through the “Luke Challenge”. If you are just seeing this post, I encourage you to scroll back on page and visit the posts from Day 1 through 12. December 1st, I started reading a chapter of Luke each day. There are 24 chapters. On Christmas Eve, I will have read all 24 chapters, join me as I continue my journey through the Book of Luke and share my daily takeaways. This challenge has helped me find peace in the challenging days we are living through. Together let’s celebrate Jesus as the REASON for the SEASON!
Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree. He planted it in his garden. He came looking for some fruit on it, but he found none. He had a servant who took care of his garden. So he said to his servant, ‘I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never find any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the ground?’ But the servant answered, ‘Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and fertilize it. Maybe the tree will have fruit on it next year. If it still does not produce, then you can cut it down.’” ~ Luke 13:6-9
Jesus used this parable to illustrate principles of God's judgment. The point is simple: God looks for fruit.
What fruit is God looking for? It is the fruit of the Spirit, mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The fruit we bear in our lives shows what kind of person we really are. If our lives have truly been touched by Jesus Christ, it will show in the fruit we bear, even if it takes a while for the fruit to come forth.
The farmer in the parable illustrates the patience of God in judgment. He waited three years and gave it a second chance. The farmer, illustrating God, did not leave the tree alone. He gave it special care, watering and fertilizing the tree.
Perhaps God is showing His special care for you right now, but it feels like there is manure all around you! Don’t resist God's work. Flow with it, pray through it and bear fruit as He continues to work in your life. Have patience.
Let’s live in the manner the Spirit directs us. These things we are given: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control let us multiply them in the fruit we bear.
January
February
March
April
(2)
May (2)
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
(1)
October (1)
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(2)
January (2)
(1)
February (1)
(2)
March (2)
(1)
April (1)
May
(1)
June (1)
(1)
July (1)
August
September
(1)
October (1)
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
(1)
February (1)
(1)
March (1)
(1)
April (1)
(1)
May (1)
(1)
June (1)
(1)
July (1)
(1)
August (1)
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
(1)
August (1)
September
(1)
October (1)
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
(1)
February (1)
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|
(2)
January (2)
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
(1)
December (1)
|
January
(1)
February (1)
(1)
March (1)
(1)
April (1)
(1)
May (1)
(1)
June (1)
(1)
July (1)
August
(1)
September (1)
(1)
October (1)
November
December
|