THE CYCLE OF GRACE

“Then he used this illustration: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if he could find any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally he told his gardener to cut it down. ‘I’ve waited three years and there hasn’t been a single fig!’ he said. ‘Why bother with it any longer? It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’ ‘Give it one more chance,’ the gardener answered. ‘Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine; if not, I’ll cut it down.’ And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 The Living Bible)

This is your Sunday Share, a morsel of advice included in Pastor M.R. King’s message specifically sent to each one of us. If you were there or you attended virtually, look at this as a highlight. If you were not in the assembly of the saints and you have not viewed this past Sunday’s message on Facebook, look at it as a shining light that will speak to you personally. Listen up!

Just as the man in Jesus’ parable above, a man who had planted in his vineyard and came looking for it to bear fruit, but did not find any, year after year, over a three-year period, the Lord has expectations for us as His disciples to bear fruit. And just as the vineyard-keeper asked to give the fig tree more time to bear fruit, the Lord has given you and me more time to bear fruit for Him. As Pastor was speaking on this he said: (1) “Don’t be passive but take the message (about producing fruit) incorporated in the message personal.” (2) “Leaves” are not enough! Produce the fruit God is looking for us to produce!”  He added, in connection with that point, “Ignoring the Lord’s instructions to produced fruit is disobedience.”  This made me think of all the churches that remain stagnant because they are satisfied with “the leaves:” well-designed buildings occupied with people in their Sunday best, but where members are not at their best in adding new souls to the kingdom of God where they can be well dressed in righteousness! “Leaves:” church décor, stained glass windows, cleverly designed signage, and manicured lawns. Friend, we have a challenge, don’t we? Let’s put some fruit on our fig trees and let us not be satisfied with just the “leaves!” (3) Respond with immediate change! Listen! Pastor’s right! Just because the Lord has given us more time, or, as Pastor reiterated what his mom says every morning, “Thank God for another day to get it right,” but recognize that we cannot keep procrastinating and postponing the producing of fruit. Connecting with mom’s saying, Pastor said, “When we wake up to a new day, we are experiencing another chance in the cycle of grace to get it right!”

I didn’t give it all to you, but as promised I gave you a Sunday Share. Be obedient. Be cognizant of what Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so ^[prove to be My disciples (John 15:8 NASB).” Be blessed!  

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 New King James Version)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King