13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 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? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 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 this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Russell Belmont
The Bridge Church – Concord CA
Observation: (Luke 13:4-5) We can become judgmental of someone else’s sin and see little to no growth or fruit of goodness. But we are told by Jesus to change our thinking and direction (repentance) since we are all sinners in need of God’s grace.
Action: When I see someone else sin, I will stop and remind myself not to think more highly of myself, thank the Lord for His grace and patience with me, and think of ways I can bear His fruit in my life.
Observation: I see that I, like the people talking to Jesus here, often look critically at others. I see that Jesus would rather me look more critically at myself.
Action: I will be more concerned with the sins of the man in the mirror than of others. I will concern myself with my own sins and my own repentance rather than the sins and repentance of others.
Well said Doug. Sometimes I find myself thinking the same way about others. May God help us all to do away with seeing others with a condemning eye and focus on how to be better disciples for the kingdom. Amen!
Thanks Mberry!
Observation: i see You give us all time. Time to think different. I see that time will run out at some point, we all die. I see I excuse by behavior, or justify by comparing myself to someone I think is way worse or must have judgement coming to them. I see the picture you paint Jesus. I also see the mirror and I am in it.
Action: Today when I gather with a bunch of not so “righteous” folks from a religious stand point, I will remember the Picture you put before me. I will see myself in the Mirror. I will look through the Window to the world more like you and bring grace and love and leave the judging to its time.
Currently the Republican Party has a running joke about repeating yourself. Some things don’t change, Jesus repeated himself in verses 3 & 5. Jesus was very serious & He was not joking around. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ” Criminal or do-gooder, all will perish. Don’t make Jesus repeat himself, when the Holy Spirit speaks to you to repent, then fall to your knees & say your sorry & then accept the gift of life.
Excuse me, while I get on my knees…
Observation: Sometimes I’m the gardener and sometimes I’m the tree. I’m really good at helping fertilize other people’s tree, not so good at letting people fertilize mine.
Action: Be open to the people speaking into my life this week. Somebody has some wisdom for me.
I am so thankful that God did some digging and fertilizing instead of pulling up my roots.