Bearing Fruit

Luke 13: 6 - 9

6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

The words of Jesus are always profound! Jesus tells the parable of a fig tree.  This tree was planted and grew for 3 years but didn’t produce any fruit.  The greater implication of this scripture points to Jesus’ ministry to Israel, which lasted for 3 years, and also that so many people missed Jesus as the Messiah.  These people didn’t bear fruit, even though God Himself was in the flesh showing them grace and mercy.

Now, let’s look at our own lives in light of this parable. Are we bearing fruit? As we can see in this parable, God shows grace and mercy to us all. But don’t forget the end of the parable… “If it bears fruit, well, but if not after that you can cut it down.”  It’s my prayer that we all bear much fruit for the Master!