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.
Suffering 39th Day in Lent (Good Friday) Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
It was around the time of COVID that I suffered horrific pain resulting in the removal of my gall bladder. The sharp pains, the cramping and the restlessness of not being able to get comfortable or be rid of the pain led to deep anxiety and fear. If you haven’t been through this, maybe you have had the experiences of intense pain through an accident, joint replacement, or childbirth. Going through such pain can make you stronger, knowing that God is there helping to restore you to bring you back to health and being able to cope. When I think of what I consider pain and suffering, I am in awe of what our Saviour Jesus went through on the cross, which we remember today.
The intense beating and scourging of his flesh, the nailing, the emotional pain of friends leaving, and the sense of abandonment when His Father left Jesus to suffer and die; I know nothing to compare to this! The fact that Jesus went through all this, not because of any wrongdoing on His behalf, but because of all the wrongdoing on our behalf. In this Bible reading in verse 7, Peter tells us to, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Here we are being reminded that even though we cannot understand this type of suffering, we are to rely on God for strength, because He knows what our suffering is about. Having a Saviour who has experienced deep pain and suffering, can allow us to bring our cares to Him, for He understands.
When sharing personal events and stories with people, we tend to choose someone who understands and will sympathise and empathise with our situation. Support groups for those with illnesses and diseases rely on understanding. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our support group when troubles and suffering occur. You will be understood and listened to. You will be cared for and given support. Our suffering will only be for a little while, we are assured, for God Himself will restore us and make us strong. Place your hope in the support of a loving Saviour.
Prayer: Our loving Saviour, thank you for being prepared to suffer and die for me. You know and understand my pain and suffering, and you care for me. In you I place my hope and love. Amen.
Our Inheritance 37th Day in Lent (Wednesday) Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4a (NIV)
Money can be a good thing that helps, but also one that divides families. I have heard stories and seen movies where in the reading of the will of a deceased family member, arguments occur, division and rifts happen between families when family members do not receive what they feel they deserve. There are also other families who do not think about the inheritance but rather feel blessed when some help comes their way. There are stories in the Bible where these issues also occur – one that comes to mind is the Prodigal Son story (Luke 15:11–32). People throughout the ages, in the Bible, in royal families, whether rich or poor, have squabbled over inheritance and riches. Inheritance depends on the person writing the will and what they feel others deserve.
When God writes out His will, we are all included and the inheritance He gives us is eternally amazing. None of us actually deserve God’s inheritance – we disobey, we say bad things, we hurt others, we turn away from God and ignore what He asks us. But still, God has given us a way to be cleansed, forgiven, and become worthy of this inheritance. It is not through anything we can do, rather it is everything that God does. He sent His pure and only Son to the cross to suffer for our sake, so that we also get to share the inheritance of Heaven with Jesus.
Our inheritance is being washed clean through Jesus’ death and resurrection (He suffered for us). Then we get to join in the riches that are ours in Heaven and in living with God eternally. As Christians we have this hope for we have faith and believe that God is truly our Heavenly Father and that we are His children. This inheritance cannot be taken away from us and is more precious than diamonds or gold. Be filled with joy and thank and praise our loving God for what He has given us. Our inheritance is the salvation of our souls!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing me to share in the inheritance of your Father. You died for me so that I can be clean and forgiven. Help me to live a life worthy of your love and sacrifice. Amen. 4
Full Assurance 36th Day in Lent (Tuesday) Read: Hebrews 10:19-23 “…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22-23 (NIV)
As a child, I remember our family really enjoyed fish and seafood of all sorts. One year I remember we got together with friends and went crabbing at some mudflats near Adelaide. We had to have old shoes on – in case the crabs got our toes – and a bucket and spade. I was younger so I went with an adult. The way to find crabs is to look for the bubbles on the surface of the very wet sand/mud and then dig down with a spade and see what comes up. I remember getting so dirty with mud and sand that my father would not let us in the car until we had washed the mud off.
We ended up getting quite a few crabs that we shared between the families. Quite a feast! You may also remember times when you got dirty, muddy or just covered with dust. Every day we get dirty – if not on the outside, it’s on the inside when we do wrong things, hurt someone else, or even think bad things. That is where it is important to be washed. We can do the outside with a shower or bath, but it is only God who can clean us on the inside. In the Bible verse above we read that Jesus cleans us through the sprinkling of water (baptism) and in verses 19 and 20 we are told that it is by the blood of Jesus that we can be totally cleansed and brought before God as His holy people. We are another day closer to Good Friday when Jesus suffered and died for our sake. Why do we call it ‘Good’ Friday?
Because that is the day that Jesus (the Son of God) put His life on the line for all our dirtiness and wrongdoing which made us unacceptable to God. Through the precious blood of Jesus and what He did for us on the cross we can draw close to God with full assurance of our forgiveness. Hold onto this faith and the hope – for God’s promises are sure and He is faithful.
Prayer: My Saviour Jesus, thank you for cleaning me inside and out so that I can be forgiven and acceptable in your Father’s sight. You bless me each day with the full assurance of this forgiveness. Amen.