Think & Thank !!

Luke 13:5 “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Luke 13:7

"For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?"

Luke 13:8-9

"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

Without repentance, Our path will follow destruction. Furthermore, Jesus Christ clarifies with no doubt that Christians must continue to repent. God’s pathway to life has always been Repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14; Acts 8:22). 

God expects his people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. A repentant life is a life of walking with God. It is to recognize our sinfulness and adopt life-long changes before God. Without repentance we cannot bear fruit for God— like a fig tree that should be cut down.

The owner (God in the parable) wants to cut it down but that another (the gardener) convinces him to wait one more year. If we really got just what we deserved, the tree would be cut down. But the owner gives another year. 

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

As Christians we are to bear the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Gal 5:22). If these fruit are not manifested in your lives, should you be cut down? 

We should ask ourselves, "What fruit am I bearing for the Lord?" "Am I showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness? These are internal characteristics, but what about external manifestations of those fruit? Ministry to others? Ministry to the Kingdom of God? 

Our Lord Jesus Christ mediates with our Father God for one more year for us to bear the fruit and we have here another fruitful year ahead!! If justice is what we really want, we would all be "perished." Mercy is what we need, and that is what the owner will allow. One more year !!