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Oh, our fruit trees! We always have such hope for them. We planted them years ago, but we haven’t gotten fruit from them. A little known fact about my husband, He loves fruit trees!

I remember the work that went into planting them. We could envision the beautiful blooms in the Spring and the fruit that would grow. Apples, pears, peaches and plums. But now we have this “orchard” with trees that haven’t produced. In fact, some of them aren’t even growing much. One just looks pitiful. Now, I’m a very practical person. To me, that tree is taking up good ground. I told Shaun we should just dig it up. Get rid of it. Get another one that will produce.

And here he is, so gracious, saying give it more time. It just needs some fertilizer and mulch.

Jesus used a similar example as He spoke to the crowd.

Luke 13:5-9

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

Jesus is speaking about repentance. Remember the Bible was written to the people of that time, but it was written for us. As you study the Bible it’s good to ask things such as:

Who was this written to?

What was it saying?

Why?

The man who planted the tree symbolizes God, the tree is the nation of Israel, and the dresser is Jesus.

God had selected these people to be special, to be set apart, for Him. These people became known as the Israelites. He blessed them and in return, they should have honored and glorified Him, repenting of their sins against Him.

But they didn’t.

Time and time again, the nation of Israel rebelled against God, choosing to do their own thing rather than what God had instructed. They were a tree planted that was bearing no fruit.

And their actions were actually hurting others. The parable speaks of the tree being cumbersome to the ground. Without bearing fruit, it was just another tree, taking up good soil from the others. God’s plan was to take up the tree and throw it in the fire. Literally speaking, He was ready to cut off the nation of Israel from His blessings.

But Jesus.

Don’t you love that?

Here He comes, the vine dresser. He steps in and says, let’s give it more time. Let me mulch it, let me put fertilizer on it, let me give it another chance to produce fruit. Then we will cut it down and throw it into the fire of it doesn’t.

Grace. Patient, loving, abounding grace.

That’s what He offered to the Israelites. Jesus’ ministry lasted about 3 years. In that time, He took what the Jews already knew about God and tried to deepen their understanding. He fertilized and nurtured them, providing nourishment in the form of the Word of God. He taught His disciples and sent them out into this world to preach repentance. He knew that whoever did not repent would be cast into the fire.

The very tree He came to save was the one He gave His life upon.

That tree was the Jews. And they denied Him and the truth. And yet, He still asked the Father to forgive them.

That grace continues. The Father is patiently waiting for repentance. But there will come a day when that time will end.

Judgment will come.

Those that have not repented, those that are not fruitful, will be thrown into the fire.

We’re not talking about just the Jews anymore, are we? The message was for the Jews first and then the gentiles – us.

Have you repented? Have you surrendered your life to God? Have you accepted that beautiful offer of grace from Jesus?

If so, are you living a life that honors God in return?

And if you have never asked God to forgive you, if you’ve never trusted in Him to save you, let’s talk. Message me. I’d be glad to show you the way to everlasting life.

The way to eternal hope and security.

The way to a fruitful life.

The way to Jesus.

Copyright © 2023 by Yalanda Merrell Lifeword.org. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org