Luke 13: 1-9 v 8 “The gardener answered, “Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and fertilizer.”
Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Not at all. What about the eighteen people who died when a tower fell on the? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish too. Then Jesus told the story of a man who planted a fig tree. He came again, and again to look at it for fruit, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener “Cut it down.” The gardener answered, “Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and fertilizer.” If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.
Jesus points out that just because bad things happen to some, it does not mean they were bad. Each one of us is capable of good and bad. What is important is that if we do bad things we own up to them, feel bad about it and try not to do it again. It is up to each one of us to repent. It can be a conversation with God or another person.
Rob Rienow points out these five steps and says to keep things simple, I did this, It was wrong, I am sorry for, I will do better next time, please forgive me.
Repentance: A Five-Step Conversation
- Step 1: Confession.
- Step 2: Acknowledge you were wrong.
- Step 3: Express regret.
- Step 4: Commit to change.
- Step 5: Ask for forgiveness.
Today I see in the story of the fig tree, the need to keep helping someone who is struggling with life, to try different things for a while but if no changes occur despite prayer and your best efforts God will lead you to move on.
CrossWalk 