Written for the Glory of God by Catherine Rouse
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing 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 fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up 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 13:1-9
“Sleep, Creep, Leap"
This popular adage in gardening means that when planting, the first year is focused on simply establishing itself and surviving, the second year is dedicated to developing a strong root system, and the third year is when the plant will reach its full potential and produce abundant flowers. Each year has a specific task and expectation.
Figs can often take longer to fruit if there is improper drainage, nutrient imbalance, lack of sunlight, etc. Year three is when the gardener really finds out if the plant is going to thrive in the spot where it is planted.
If we are the barren fig tree in the story, then Jesus is the fertilizer to balance our imbalances and right us for a bountiful harvest. When we receive His nourishment and take it into our roots, we then LEAP into summer with branches dripping with fruit.
Lord, please help us to rely on you for our nourishment so we can yield an abundance of figs this Lenten Season.
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