Mudslingers and Fig Trees

I am ready for this election season to be over.  How about you?  I’m done with all of the mudslinging. We continually hear one political group comparing themselves to the other by showing how evil their opponent is.

It doesn’t take long to get tired of all the negativity. Highlighting only the bad might make us feel better for a brief moment, but soon either we, or those around us will need some good news.

Our scripture passage today talks about this very thing. Luke 13: 1-9 explains how there were some who were talking to Jesus about how bad certain people where.  Jesus even questions these accusers asking, “Do you think 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.”

Did you catch Jesus’s reply? “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Those who brought the question to Jesus were not even talking about themselves.  They were comparing one group of Galileans to another, but Jesus turns the tables on them saying they too need to repent.

Jesus continues telling about a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard that did not produce any fruit. The man wanted to cut down the tree because it was just using up soil.  It’s not hard to see that Jesus was telling this story about those who thought they were good enough.  He keeps the story focused on those who were playing the comparison game, not on the “sinners”.

As Christians, we need to be particularly careful how we treat others. It’s easy to compare someone else’s shortcomings as worse than our, in order to bolster our self-worth.  Talking with a friend, family member or colleague about what horrible thing someone else did, takes the spotlight off of how we are doing, but that kind of living is dangerous.

We need to make sure we are producing good fruit for the Kingdom of God and not just using up soil. Repentance is the key to keeping the focus on ourselves and away from others.

Heavenly Father,

We confess that we often look at what others are doing hoping to feel better about ourselves.  We are so sorry. Please forgive us.  Help us to turn our focus and only compare ourselves to you.  Thank you for loving us and not giving up on us.  Help us to produce fruit that gives you glory. When we do look at others, please help us to look with love and compassion.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Discipleship Process

 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15)

We are all family, but we also must establish our own personal relationship with God.  Just because my grandmother was a Believer and lived her life for Christ, doesn't mean I am now saved by riding her coattails.  I must believe on my own, I must accept Jesus for me, not because my relatives believed.

Faith is such a personal thing, but also public. I want a personal relationship so that I can have a public testimony. My individual connection to my Savior is necessary; my story that results because of this affiliation takes my faith to the next level.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

True Disciples of Jesus Christ, go out into the world and make Disciples of Jesus Christ. Once I know Jesus and accept His love, grace and mercy, I grow in my relationship with Him. 

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus. (2 Peter 3:18)

I am transformed and changed through and through. Then, as a natural part of this Discipleship path, I will go with Jesus. I will go and share this news with others. I will share the Gospel as a true Disciple of Jesus Christ.

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8)

Genesis 28:10-22

John 15:1-12

Gardening is an art, just ask someone who does not have a green thumb.  While it may be an art, it is also a learned craft and one that takes a lot of work, dedication and loving care.  You might see a neighbor leaning over a flower bed and wonder why his yard produces such beautiful blooms while yours looks too pitiful to point to.  What is the difference?  Could be lots of things, but a couple of the more obvious ones would be water and sunshine and pruning.

Water and sunshine are no brainers, but pruning?  Isn't that cutting some of the plant off and throwing it away?  Ouch, that sounds harsh.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:2)  

Flowers are meant for us to enjoy, to look at and feel blessed with a colorful treat for the eye.  Ask a gardener what his secret to his successful crop is and he might tell you that  we will thin out the bed by plucking up any shoots that do not look promising; those that are not growing and taking the shape they should.

The scripture of the Vine and the Branches is about the Master Gardener, Jesus, and how He wants to teach us how to bear fruit, how to be the best we can be.  We must be close to Him.  

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

John 15:1-12 at Biblegateway.com