In Luke 13:6-9, the vinedresser listened while the tree’s owner determined its fate. That useless thing wouldn’t bare fruit, in spite of three years of persistent care. According to the owner, that tree used up the goodness in the ground, stopped the sun from shining on smaller plants and took up space better used by another tree.
However the vinedresser held out hope that the tree might finally blossom and bear fruit. He begged the owner for at least one more year to turn that tree around. He wanted the opportunity to dig around it and encourage its growth with some manure.
Luke 13:8-Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil] (AMP).
That tree refused to co-operate for three years, the same length of time that Jesus ministered here on earth.
The vinedresser begged the owner for more time to bring it to its senses. That is the grace of God.
The vinedresser planned to dig at the tree’s roots and put stinky stuff on it. That fig tree needed to get its act together and the vinedresser intended to do whatever it took to make that happen.
When we are using up the goodness of life around us and living in ways that interfere with the Son’s attention to others, we are just taking up space. We are on borrowed time with God.
We may soon experience some digging at our roots and stinky stuff might happen to us. That’s because God doesn’t want us to waste our lives. He wants us to bear fruit, but if we refuse, he will not hesitate to carry out plan. Eeeeyew.
Luke 13: 9- Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out (AMP).
Luke 13:5-I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally (AMP)
Prayer: Lord, dig some manure around our roots, in the places where we most need it. Amen.
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