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.
Candlelit Candelabra 30th December Read: Ephesians 5:8-14 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…” Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
In 1991 I spent five months nannying for two children in Monmouth, Wales. I went from teaching year five in Mt Barker to looking after a 3 ½ year old and nine-month-old. They were children needing a lot of love and attention and I had them from 7am to 7pm, six days a week. The family was very generous, and I was invited to all family occasions. It was an old house, couple hundred years old, with six bathrooms, many bedrooms and a round staircase complete with a ghost I was told. For special occasions dinner was held in a total electricity-free dining room only lit by a large suspended candlelit candelabra. It was magical with the play between the darkness and the light cast by the candles. Before electricity, candles and oil lamps were needed to produce light in the darkness. If attention was not taken to keeping the candles lit and the oil filled, you could find yourself in darkness.
Darkness is sneaky and tends to sneak up on the unsuspecting. The vigilant housekeeper in Monmouth oversaw keeping the candles lit. If the candelabra went out, candles on the table needed to be lit. Darkness is scary, and to be in the dark without a Saviour is even worse. In the Ephesians text in verse 9, we are told what the fruits are to be in our lives for living in the light: goodness, righteousness and truth. Paul tells us in the Bible passage that we are to not live in the darkness, for many sinful things are done in the dark. Rather we are to expose the evil and repent and bring it all into the light of God’s love and forgiveness where everything is visible.
God wants us to be His children who live in His light; knowing a loving, compassionate Father that we can come to at any time and be assured that we will be heard and forgiven. So, be open with your relationship with Jesus – tell Him all and don’t let the darkness sneak up. Be enlightened and live in the Light! Prayer: With you, my Saviour, there is no darkness, only light. Help me to be vigilant to keep my light burning and not let the darkness creep into my life. Guide me in your way! Amen
Shining God’s Light 29th December Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
“In the beginning there was nothing, God said ‘Let there be light!’ There was still nothing, but now you could see it.” When on a Lutheran Youth Encounter Team in America, our team often had to lead ‘lock-ins’ – overnight youth sleepover in a church where they were locked in. There were games, pizza, study and discussion and a little bit of sleep! One of the favourite games for a lock-in was ‘Sardines’. One person went to hide, and everyone had to find them. When they were found, they had to hide with them, and it kept going until the last person found the whole group trying to hide in the same place all squished together. Torches were not allowed, and we had to keep very quiet. 10-15 people squished in one hiding spot were usually found – the noise was enough.
The faces of the youth shone with laughter and joy, and we had to allow time for our eyes to adjust to the light after being in darkness for so long. I enjoyed these games and the time to talk. Many times, there were some in the group who did not know who Jesus was, and spending time together grew the friendships and by the end you could see the light of the knowledge of Jesus shining in their eyes.
When we know Jesus and the saving love of our Lord and Saviour our face shows the glory of God. It shines brightly. There are many in the world living in darkness without knowing about Jesus. God said: ‘Let there be light’. We can relate this to let there be light in our lives and hearts enough that we shine out His glory. Sometimes it is much easier to hide especially in a group and not tell others about our faith. We hide in the dark with the others even though we know the truth about Jesus. Maybe it is time to find all those ‘lost’ in the dark and bring them into the light of Jesus.
We won’t need a torch – our face will show enough light! Hiding in the dark can be fun, but enjoying Jesus’ light in community is better! Prayer: Lord Jesus, let my face show and shine out to others the knowledge and love I have in you. Help me not to hide my light in dark places, but to shine it out for all to see. Amen
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.