‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this 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 fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down’” (Luke 13:7-9).
Heavenly Father, Your word is a lamp for our feet, a light on our path (Psalm 119:105). It is amazing how You have preserved Your word, validating it and explaining it within the word itself.
Thank You for the wisdom and the knowledge in Your parables. Open our eyes and ears, open our understanding, so that we can receive the multiple lessons You desire to impress on our hearts.
Lord, we see a powerful reminder of Your unequaled grace in the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:7-9). Among its many lessons, it shows us that The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love...He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:8,10).
Scholars have spoken much of the possible interpretations of the fig tree, and what it symbolizes. But whether the fig tree represents a nation, or nations, the church, or an individual, or all of them, the story of grace is still the same. Help us not to lose it in our academic debates.
Thank You that You are patient with [us], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Thank You for the gifts You give, of time, of patience and of care. Thank You that in the midst of ingratitude and oblivion and rebellion, You are willing to dig, and fertilize, and salvage and preserve.
But O Lord, help us to understand from the parable that we dare not presume on Your grace. Help us to understand that our earthly life is fleeting. That we are accountable for the "soil we use up." That we cannot continue in the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) without an eventual reckoning.
The parable of the fig tree is consistent with the message throughout Your word—while You give grace, You require "yield" in Your spiritual harvest from everyone. The Lord Jesus reminded His disciples of the importance of "bearing fruit," “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2).
Thank You, Lord God, for Your great grace. But keep us mindful of the words of the apostle Paul to the Corinthian church, We urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says,
“In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
Thank You for this time of Your favor and grace. Draw souls lost in the fruitless deeds of darkness into Your marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Help disciples to bear fruit—fruit that will last (John 15:16)—and to demonstrate true discipleship in Christ, bringing glory to the Father (John 15:8).
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