The Promise of Year Four--- Day 22 Sat. March 13, 2010

"The Promise of Year Four"

Day 22 Saturday March 13, 2010

TODAY’S INTRO
A short text today. I hope you have a great Saturday. Lots of rain looking out my window. I suspect brilliant green grass and bright flowers are just a few weeks away!

TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 13:1-9
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’

TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Do you ever give up on other people? Perhaps their behavior seems hopeless. They seem unable to change. We wish they would but they simply won’t change.
One of the things I take from the text today is that when we are “about to give up on another person” God may be expecting more from us. I look at Jesus’ story and note that nothing is said of the cultivation techniques in years 1 through 3. What is shown is extra effort and nurture and intentionality in trying to bring out the best in the fig tree. The hope and prayer is that year 4 will “pull out all the stops” and get the fig tree producing.

I suspect that many people in our lives who struggle would benefit a tremendous amount if they were surrounded by people who seek to help them grow- physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Perhaps you and I are like the fig tree that has yet to bloom. Our prayer today is that you will be surrounded with attentive gardeners to help you “bloom and grow” right where you are.
If you are in a gardening role, take that task seriously and really reach out to those who need to grow. Be patient, forgiving, and attentive so that you can help instill hope and progress. Year 4 will be good. People can and do grow. Sometimes they simply need a catalyst who believes that growth can occur. Be that catalyst.

Causes
Is Jesus that catalyst for us—giving us time to bloom and grow?