Gardening

 
Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this tree, and haven’t found any.  Cut it down!  Why should it use up all the soil?”

“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.”

LUKE 13:6-9 (NIV)


PAUSE:  Quiet yourself in His love and invite Him to be with you. 


REFLECT:

* Does this tree remind you of yourself?   Do you ever see yourself as bearing little or no fruit?
 
* Do you see Jesus as someone wanting to work “one more year” in your life, or do sometimes feel that he could easily give up on you?

* In those days, might a gardener (Jesus) come in every day to check on things?

* Might the gardener (Jesus) consider his job just as a job, or might he have had a passion for gardening and would like to be nowhere else but in the garden?

* Do you think the gardener (Jesus) was optimistic and hopeful, or ready to give up?

* Why do you think the gardener (Jesus) mentioned “a year”, rather than three months, or six months?

* Do you believe Jesus would put in a day’s work in his garden on you, yes you?

* How productive and nurturing would a healthy tree be in its seeds?

* What fruit would He love to see in us?  In Galatians, we read that the fruit of the Spirit encompasses:

        Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.                      Which of these is in greatest need in your life?


RECEIVE:

All of us need to invite the Master Gardener into our hearts, minds and spirits every day!  He'll show up!


Click HERE to go back to "Week 15 Outline".

Click HERE to go to "Uses of Memory".