Post by Woody Williams on Mar 11, 2007 6:12:30 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Luke 13:1-9
----------
At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He
asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in
this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell
you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those
eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do
you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living
in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
perish just as they did."
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he
said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking
for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why
should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for
one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it
bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it
down.'"
Devotional
----------
Jesus sounds the call to repentance to everyone. Persons who
experience natural calamities are not more sinful than others
requiring greater repentance. All of us stand in need of repentance -
confessing our sins and turning toward God's love and grace. Then we
move on to bear the fruit of repentance in seeking a more righteous
and fruitful life in Christ. Repentance is not just feeling sorry. It
is also opening my life to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
--------------
I offer my sins to you for forgiveness, O Lord, and also my life for
transformation. Amen
----------
At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He
asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in
this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell
you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those
eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do
you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living
in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
perish just as they did."
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he
said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking
for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why
should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for
one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it
bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it
down.'"
Devotional
----------
Jesus sounds the call to repentance to everyone. Persons who
experience natural calamities are not more sinful than others
requiring greater repentance. All of us stand in need of repentance -
confessing our sins and turning toward God's love and grace. Then we
move on to bear the fruit of repentance in seeking a more righteous
and fruitful life in Christ. Repentance is not just feeling sorry. It
is also opening my life to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
--------------
I offer my sins to you for forgiveness, O Lord, and also my life for
transformation. Amen