Luke 13:1-9v 8 “The gardener answered, “Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.”
At the start of this passage Jesus talked about some fellow Galileans who had been murdered by Pilate and another 18 people who had been killed by a tower in Siloam falling on them. He asked if these were the worst sinners which is why they died? His answer in both cases was no they weren’t. “Unless you repent,” ask forgiveness for the bad things you have done,” you will perish too. “
And then He tells the story, known as a parable, about a barren fig tree. The owner of the garden wants the fig tree to be cut down as it bears no fruit. The gardener answered, “Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.”
My first understanding from this passage is that we are all sinners. Second, that some people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and bad things happen to them. Our job is to make sure that we realize the bad things we do and ask God for his forgiveness. To repent of our sins and turn to God. Despite our best intentions as humans, we fall short all the time. God is there to help us and that is what we see in the parable. The poor fig tree not bearing any fruit for three years. However, Jesus loves every one of us and will continue to give us special attention and the food we need to bear fruit.
Don’t worry about how bad the bad guys are, work on being a better you. Tell God you are sorry when you do something bad. Know that Jesus will help you to be the best you can be for those around you.
CrossWalk 