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.
When the hunter is hunted
by Stephen Abraham
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And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever (Isaiah 25:7,8a).
Read Isaiah 25:7–9
Spoiler alert! In the final chapter of the classic nail-biting blockbuster film Jurassic Park, our heroes are being hunted by a pair of relentless, intelligent, nine-foot-tall killer dinosaurs: the velociraptors.
Despite all their efforts to escape, the survivors are finally cornered in the park’s main exhibit – and about to be eaten alive by these invincible killing machines. Just as one pounces, the mighty ‘king of lizards’ – the Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) – bursts into the room, snatching the leaping velociraptor out of mid-air with its jaws. The T. rex finishes off the second velociraptor, finally letting out a massive, triumphant roar inside the rotunda, letting all know: ‘I am the king of the dinosaurs.’ The End.
In the ancient cultures of Old Testament times, death was often thought of as a great mouth swallowing people whole. We hear it mentioned several times in Scripture, like in the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16:32, which records that ‘the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up’. Here in Isaiah 25:8, at the end of time, reality is flipped – the King of Heaven swallows up the swallower! (Kind of like the T. rex in Jurassic Park taking out the velociraptors). Paul also mentions this in 1 Corinthians 15:54b when talking about the triumphant resurrection of the dead: ‘… then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”’
What a powerful image – the King of Heaven destroying death itself. It’s no wonder the response is worship in Isaiah 25:9: ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’
Almighty God, King of the Universe, we look forward with bated breath to this amazing time – the end of death, the end of suffering. As we wait, and as we suffer this side of eternity, Lord Jesus, cry with us and wipe away our tears in readiness for that great day of days: the day of our eternal salvation. Amen.
Stephen Abraham is a retired Lutheran pastor and musician who served as a school pastor and church planter in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Having to retire due to a spinal injury that leaves him largely housebound with chronic pain, Stephen still preaches, takes chapel and serves his local church and school. He also writes and records personal songs, worship songs and Christian meditations, which he shares on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/StephenAbrahamMusic
Leave the weeds to the master
by Stephen Abraham
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‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them’ (Matthew 13:29).
Read Matthew 13:24–30
In Year 8 Agriculture at my high school, we were each given a plot and some cabbage seeds and told to plant the cabbages and keep the plot weed-free. In my report at the end of the semester, my teacher Mr Boerth wrote, ‘Stephen struggled to keep the weeds at bay. He is no gardener!’ (A bad report for the son of a farmer!)
As much as I try, I admit I’m still no gardener. Nowadays, I get help with my garden from an expert. He knows far more than I do. Sometimes I have ideas for dealing with issues in my garden and don’t consult him. I inevitably do the wrong thing, which he then must correct. As much as I want to do things myself, I have to trust his expertise first.
In the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, Jesus addresses the human frustration of seeing weeds among the wheat. A farmer’s field is sabotaged by an enemy who sows weeds alongside the good wheat. In first-century Palestine, this weed was likely darnel, a poisonous plant closely resembling wheat in its early stages of growth. When the master’s workers eagerly offer to pull up the weeds, the master stops them with a surprising command: ‘Let both grow together until the harvest.’
We make judgement calls all day long: make this or that for breakfast, check our calendars or messages, sort out this problem or prioritise another. But when it comes to God’s kingdom – who is righteous, who is not, who is heaven-bound and who is not – that is not our call to make. Calling down God’s judgement on people isn’t our responsibility (as much as we might want to).
Do we need to confront poor behaviour respectfully? Yes. Do we need to keep people safe? Absolutely. Do we help those who need help? Of course! Do we point people to Jesus? One hundred per cent. But a person’s salvation or damnation isn’t our call to make – we leave that to the master.
Heavenly Master of the field, we lift our world to you. Focus us on your word and on the tasks set before us. Help us trust you with the final outcome of our world, knowing that we who are in Christ will one day shine like the sun in your kingdom. Amen.
Stephen Abraham is a retired Lutheran pastor and musician who served as a school pastor and church planter in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Having to retire due to a spinal injury that leaves him largely housebound with chronic pain, Stephen still preaches, takes chapel and serves his local church and school. He also writes and records personal songs, worship songs and Christian meditations, which he shares on his YouTube channel
Seeing the sign
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me (Psalm 86:17).
Read Psalm 86:11–17
I remember watching a movie called The Man with Two Brains some years ago. It was a comedy starring actor Steve Martin. In one of the opening scenes, we see his character (recently widowed) standing in front of a painting of his late wife, talking to it about what to do regarding a woman who had taken his fancy. Then he says, ‘Show me a sign, just show me a sign!’ The picture starts spinning on the wall – and he takes it down and puts it away in a cupboard.
Have you seen any signs of God’s goodness lately? I have. I see God’s goodness in the beauty of nature, in the fact that we have food on the table, in the love of family and friends, and every time I go to church and hear the words, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, ‘Take and eat, this is my body’, and ‘Take and drink, this is my blood that was shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins’. And, of course, God’s goodness shines through answered prayers.
Even when we cannot form the words to ask God for help, God knows our needs and what is on our hearts. Think about how God provides help and comfort when you most need it – the person who is prepared to listen; the quiet touch when you feel lost and alone; the friend who checks in to make sure you’re okay – and the knowledge that nothing can separate you from God’s loving care (see Romans 8:26–39).
The psalmist prays that God would teach him to rely on God’s faithfulness. We can pray that, too – and in learning to rely on God’s faithfulness, we can have confidence that God will never leave us or forsake us; God will deliver us from the depths. And in return, let’s give thanks and praise to our generous God – the God who surrendered his only Son for us, to die for us and to make it possible for us to be God’s children for now and for always.
Let’s pray: faithful God, thank you for always being here for us. Thank you for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love, faithfulness and mercy. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading, writing and drinking coffee with her husband, John, and their friends. Colleen and John enjoy regular fitness classes, particularly when they include opportunities to throw frisbees.