Read Luke 13:1–9
The practice of digging around a tree is common when it is not growing well and, in turn, not producing the fruit it was planted for. When the soil around the tree is disturbed, the roots are damaged in the digging, and then the tree has to grow new roots, which, in turn, strengthen the tree to bear fruit for the next season.
Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that doesn’t bear fruit. The owner says, ‘Well cut it down’, but the man taking care of it says, ‘Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilise it’.
The tree doesn’t need to be destroyed but disturbed and fed instead.
We are like this tree. We were planted in the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus and given a purpose – to bear fruit. Yet it is easy to drift away from Jesus and begin to follow the way of the world and the way of ourselves. We find it easier to listen to the devil, tempting us with lies in the idea that ‘it is my life and my body; I can do what I like’.
But Jesus has chosen you as his own for his purpose. To bear fruit. The fruit of God’s love in action toward those around you. You are created to be a blessing to others. You are blessed to bless others with God’s love in action.
When the word of the Lord challenges you to live differently, it is like Jesus digging at your roots – the roots in self rather than in the word. You see, the word is the fertiliser of life, and the word of Jesus Christ will feed and sustain you in bearing the fruit of God’s love in action.
When Jesus digs at your roots, hear the word, and be ready for his word to guide, challenge, heal and restore you. Be prepared for his word to nourish your hungry soul, ready to go out into the world with new growth and fruit that blesses others.
Dear Jesus, dig into my roots of selfishness and worldly ways. Let me grow in you to bear fruit for others. Help me to be a blessing to everyone I meet today. Feed me, nourish me, and strengthen me daily in your holy word. Amen.
Pastor Mark lives with his two daughters aged 11 and 8 in Redcliffe, just north of Brisbane. He currently serves as a pastor in the LCANZ and is passionate about sharing Jesus’ love with those around him. Pastor Mark loves to travel with his family to see the wonders of God’s creation and meet people who share their stories of what God has done for them.
God’s Lighthouse 3rd Sunday in Advent Read: Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 (NIV)
For a couple years, while I was in my 20’s, I took up sailing as a pastime when a friend invited me as a crew member on a 44-foot yacht. We sailed every Sunday from Outer Harbour – sometimes in races, sometimes for pleasure and other times to hone our skills for racing. One weekend we went on an overnighter to Yorke Peninsula. I remember waking one night for my turn at watch and the person at the helm asked me to take over. There was no moon and no stars because of cloud cover, and I asked about where I steer to and take my bearings?
Off in the far distance was a small pinprick of light, a lighthouse. I was told to keep the bow of the ship pointed to that light. The purpose of a lighthouse is to be the unchanging light for ships to steer and be guided by. They are also a warning, telling of rocks and land. This lighthouse guided us safely through the night. God’s glory similarly shines out bright and strong showing us the right way to go and guiding us through dangers. This glory of God is not just a physical light, but it is also the reflection of God’s love, character and His truth. When we are out in life like a ship without any light to be guided by, God’s lighthouse shines out bright and strong leading us and others to the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ.
We are called to ‘arise and shine’, to live actively in God’s light to draw and share that light with others. It is an attractive light that draws people to God, just as ships are drawn to a lighthouse. In verse 3 the passage talks about nations coming to the light. God’s plan is for the salvation of everyone.
The glory of God shines in and through our lives. Be a beacon of God’s love this Advent season and bring a friend into God’s light. Shine out brightly for others to see God’s love through who you are! Prayer: My glorious God, thank you for shining out brightly into my life and for guiding me through difficult times. Help me to also be that beacon of hope for others to see you at work through me. Amen
Peaceful Light 2nd Saturday in Advent Read: Isaiah 45:5-8 “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness…” Isaiah 45:6b-7a (NIV)
In my younger days I loved to go camping. My friend Julie and I spent many days out in the bush, roughing it, walking through God’s amazing creation and tenting where there were no others. The Blue Mountains, the Coorong, Flinders Ranges and Halls Gap, all these places hold amazing memories. One thing I especially remember was the darkness. Once we turned off our torches and lamps for the night, there was only blackness in the tent, but to then venture out of the tent, the moon and even the stars gave comforting light. These were peaceful lights.
God created the day lights and the night lights. One set to rule the day and the other to rule the night. Thinking about God’s light – we are never without it physically, so relating that to us spiritually – we are never without the presence of God’s light shining into our lives and hearts. At Advent we start celebrating the light of the Christ-child who is coming at Christmas to bring light into the darkened souls of people. Back before Jesus came, the people did not have the Saviour, they had the hope and the promise that God was sending a Messiah, a Saviour to bring light, life and peace into an unsettled world. We also live in an unsettled world and many walk around in the darkness without the light of Christ and
His forgiveness and promise of eternal life. Our society finds other things to fill this absence of God’s light in their lives. Jesus came to bring light to everyone – no exceptions! God sent the bright light of day, the muted light of night and then total darkness of being in absence of light. As Christians we mostly walk in the bright day, but there are also times when we feel muted of light or absent of God’s presence. Jesus brings light and love to the darkened places – call on Him and live in the light of day. Whether in the light or dark – God never leaves you! Prayer: Shining Jesus, light my heart with your love and presence. Help me to light others’ lives by sharing with them your hope and promises. Amen
The Peace Child Read: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2 (NIV).
In 1962, the Sawi people of New Guinea still lived in relative isolation. They were head hunting cannibals. Their culture could not be more different from that of Don and Carol Richardson, and yet this missionary couple attempted to share Christ with them. In fact, two rival Sawi tribes, fascinated by the Richardsons, moved their villages right around the missionaries’ jungle home.
But Don became frustrated by his inability to find a point of contact. He was also discouraged by the 14 civil wars he had already counted right outside his front door now that the two tribes lived side by side. Eventually, the Richardsons decided to leave. However, the Sawi response surprised them: “If you’ll stay, we promise we’ll make peace in the morning.” The next morning the Richardsons awoke to see the most amazing ritual they had ever witnessed. The two tribes were lined up outside their houses, on either side of the clearing.
Finally, one man dashed into his hut, grabbed his newborn son, and began to run across the meadow towards the other tribe. His expression betrayed absolute agony. His wife ran after him, screaming and begging him to give the baby back to her. But her husband wouldn’t stop. He ran over to the other tribe and presented the boy to them. “Plead the peace child for me.
I give you my son, and I give you my name,” he said. Moments later, someone from that tribe performed the same agonizing sacrifice with the same intensity and passion. Richardson found out later that as long as those two children remained alive, the tribes were bound to peace. While this amazing scene unfolded before him, Don suddenly realized that this was the analogy he needed to communicate Christ. The next time he spoke to the Sawi elders he told them of the perfect Peace Child, Jesus. There are many around us who walk in darkness without Jesus.
This Christmas, share the story of the Peace Child born in a manger as the Son of God. Baby Jesus is our child of peace to bring light to a darkened world! Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to share the wonderful news of your Son’s birth with those around me. Bring me out of any darkness of sin into your amazing light. Amen