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.
Proclaiming Light 28th December Read: Acts 26:19-23 “But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen – that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise form the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22-23 (NIV)
One evening, a man took a small candle from a box and began to climb a long, winding stairway. “Where are we going?” asked the candle. “We’re going up higher than a house to show the ships the way to the harbour.” “But no ship in the harbour could ever see my light,” the candle said. “It is so very small.” “If your light is small,” the man said, “just keep on burning brightly and leave the rest to me.”
When they reached the top of the long stairs, they came to a large lamp. Then he took the little candle and lit the lamp. Soon, the large, polished mirrors behind the lamp sent beams of light out across the miles of the sea. A blinding light brought Paul to acknowledging Jesus as God’s Son and then became one of the greatest evangelists sharing the Gospel and encouraging new churches and congregations in the faith. Paul had his share of difficulties: arrested, beaten, stoned, thrown into prison, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake and had a physical malady, his ‘thorn in the flesh’. But his faith in Jesus never wavered, even when he addressed King Agrippa in Acts 26. Paul shared the Gospel at all times and in all circumstances.
Even in times of difficulty and persecution, Paul told of his Saviour Jesus, hoping to bring more to know Him. In the above story of the candle, we also may feel that we are only just a little light in the big world, how can we make a difference. But we are God’s candle, and it is our job to keep shining. Just like Paul. The result of this shining is in God’s hands. A tiny candle or match can start a forest fire.
The little flame of your good example can change people’s lives without you even knowing. Be a light to them like the beacon in the story that guided ships to safe harbour. Shine brightly to others that they may see you and then give glory to God. Prayer: Dear Jesus, allow my small light to shine brightly that others can see you. Encourage me to grow through learning more about you and your love so that I can share it more confidently. Amen.
The Light for Everyone 27th December Read: Acts 13:44-49 “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47 (NIV)
I lead a KYB (Know Your Bible) group in our church. During term two we were studying about ‘Jesus of Nazareth, God and Man’. It was eye-opening to not just me but the entire group, all the prophecies that have been told about Jesus that are now fulfilled with His coming to earth as a human. One of them is the above, with Paul and Barnabas quoting Simeon, prophesising about Jesus when he was 40 days old: this child will be “…a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) Jesus came first and foremost to the Jews, the people of Israel, to lead them to knowing their God and His Son Jesus, to bring them all salvation. But, the Jews (people of Israel) rejected Jesus, and put Him to death on the cross.
They didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God who had come into the world to deliver everyone from their sins. Orthodox Jews are still waiting for their Messiah to come. When the Jews rejected Jesus, the above prophecy came true, that Jesus was coming to deliver all people (the Gentiles – non-Jews) from darkness leading them into the light of God’s forgiveness and love bringing them salvation. God’s love and forgiveness is for everyone and God desires, “…all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 2:4 NIV) Even when Paul and Barnabas were speaking to the Jews in Antioch, the Jews were filled with jealousy that he had so many listening to him. They were also rude and abusive. Others who were there listening (Gentiles) were glad to know that God is a God for all and they honoured the Word of God. There will always be those who reject the Word of God, but don’t let that stop you from talking to people about the light of Christ that has come into your life. To become a Christian, one must first hear about Jesus! Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the light that has come into the world to bring all people to know your love and receive eternal life. Guide me to share your Gospel freely to others from all walks of life. Amen
Children of the Light 26th December Read: John 12:35-36 Jesus said: “Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” John 12:36a (NIV-UK)
Light. We are fascinated with it, captivated by sunlight coming through tree branches, wonder at the light of the rainbow after a storm, marvel at the flashes of lightning that light up the sky, and lie out under the stars that twinkle at night. God has given us so many natural lights to enjoy and to use to see the world around us. God has also given us the talents to make light: fire, electric lights, neon lights, fireworks, and LED lights. What does it mean when Jesus said He wants us to “…become children of light”? Light is the absence of darkness.
So, where there is light, there is no darkness. There are so many references in the Bible to light and darkness: Genesis 1:3-5; John 1:5; Ephesians 5:8 and 1 John 1:5, are a just a couple you may want to look up. The Bible uses the light and darkness as powerful metaphors to represent good and evil, truth and falsehood and when God is present and when He is absent. Jesus came into the world at Christmas bringing light to everyone. This light brought the love, grace, peace and forgiveness of a loving God. No longer would people have to wander around being concerned about their salvation. With Jesus in our lives, our hope and futures are assured. Jesus has brought the light of God to the world – the goodness and forgiveness from all wrongdoings. He now wants us to live as “…children of light”, living in the presence of a loving God. Living in darkness is to be living in a world without the love, light and forgiveness of God.
I don’t want to live like that. It is up to us to share this light with those who are in darkness, to shed hope and the gift of grace and love with those who live without hope. Be God’s children of light in a darkened world. Jesus has come into the world bringing light and love at Christmas. Live as children of the light! Prayer: Loving Father, you brought light into the darkened world when you sent your son Jesus at Christmas. Help me to live every day in this light and shine it into other people’s darkened lives. Amen.