One More Chance
How many of us have needed one more chance sometime in our lives? How often are we willing to give other people one more chance? That is the main emphasis of the parable Jesus told His disciples in Luke 13:6-9. Our men discussed this parable this morning in our study of the gospel of Luke. I believe the Lord spoke to us all about not giving up on people, no matter what sin they might be involved in.
The owner wanted to cut down the fig tree that had born any fruit in 3 years. However, the vineyard keeper expressed the need for more patience and diligence to see if the tree would still produce fruit. His advice was that he would dig up the ground around it and fertilize it before making the final decision to cut it down. It sounds to me like there could have been some hard ground and a lack of the right ingredients to bear fruit. I think we find that with people, too. We need to help break up their hard hearts, and we need to supply the truth for them to see God's ways. We need to do all of this in a non-judgmental way, so they know we really care. Once their hearts become softer, and the Spirit has time to press the truth upon them, there is a great chance they will bear fruit. That should be our method and our goal.
Who do you know right now who needs another chance? What could you do to help soften their heart? How could you deliver God's truth in a relevant way? I pray that we will make this effort, because there are many hurting people out there, who are living barren lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 12-14.
The owner wanted to cut down the fig tree that had born any fruit in 3 years. However, the vineyard keeper expressed the need for more patience and diligence to see if the tree would still produce fruit. His advice was that he would dig up the ground around it and fertilize it before making the final decision to cut it down. It sounds to me like there could have been some hard ground and a lack of the right ingredients to bear fruit. I think we find that with people, too. We need to help break up their hard hearts, and we need to supply the truth for them to see God's ways. We need to do all of this in a non-judgmental way, so they know we really care. Once their hearts become softer, and the Spirit has time to press the truth upon them, there is a great chance they will bear fruit. That should be our method and our goal.
Who do you know right now who needs another chance? What could you do to help soften their heart? How could you deliver God's truth in a relevant way? I pray that we will make this effort, because there are many hurting people out there, who are living barren lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 12-14.