Bearing Fruit

 Luke 13: 1-9

Repent or Perish

13 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. ⁴ Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷ So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ ⁸ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Did you ever feel like you were a barren fig tree, existing,  leading a unproductive life bearing no fruit? There are low times such as these that could easily discourage us, but they are normal and can be rectified by more sleep, a change of routine, a change of scenery, and above all, more time in prayer. God speaks in the silence and assures us of his Presence and Love, even when we are dry and barren. Repentance, a "soul cleaning" and a "time-sharing" with our God can and will make us open to his plan and his grace. Even the "barren time" can produce  fruit if we let it.

Bro. Rene