Listen

Jesus told this parable: “A man owned a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He said to his gardener, ‘Look, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I’ve never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil’s nutrients?’ The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer. Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.’”

Luke 13:6-9

Think

If you plant an apple tree and maintain it properly on a daily basis, you expect that tree to produce apples. If it does not, then something is not right. In the same way, through this parable, Jesus makes it clear to us that there is a divine expectation that his vineyard (his people) will bear fruit that manifests who we are and manifests the transformation that is occurring in our lives by being in relationship with God.

When we truly seek God, there is evidence. Our life changes. God transforms us from within, and as a result, we produce fruits such as love, patience, kindness, humility and self-control. But if we do not approach God regularly, we run the risk of being like that barren fig tree.

The good news is that God is patient with us. God gives us time and opportunities to repent, seek God, and grow spiritually. But we must not procrastinate. Today is the time to draw near to God and allow God’s love to make us bear fruit that will bless others.

Juan L. Garcia

Question to Ponder:

What is your life and character revealing about your search for God?

Pray

God of all mercy, I commit myself to seek you every day and bear fruit that reflects your love and the transformation you are doing in me. Amen.

Go

The Lord who loves you reminds you in Jeremiah 29:13, “They will seek me and find me, for they will seek me with their whole heart.”