The Daily Word: Friday, April 9th, 2021
Deuteronomy 33:1-29
Luke 13:1-21
Psalm 78:65-72
Proverbs 12:25
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
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. 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?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ” – Lk. 13:6-8
You are the fig tree. I am the fig tree! Jesus will come seeking fruit on us. He will expect us to be fruitful for the kingdom. We will meet Him face to face, and give an account for everything we have ever done, and anything we have left undone (Rom. 14:12)! This should strike terror into our hearts; because God has given you a great work to do, and you had better do it!
But if you’re having trouble bearing fruit, don’t panic. The Holy Spirit is the “keeper of [your] vineyard” (v 7). When you have trouble bearing fruit, the Holy Spirit will come and cultivate you! He will fertilize you by refreshing you in His presence. He will “dig around you” (v 8) by removing unnecessary and unwanted distractions from your life. He will prune you and narrow your focus so that all you want to do and all you think about is laying down your life for the kingdom of God!
Don’t get cut down. Ask the Holy Spirit for help! You can’t grow or bear fruit on your own; but when you are connected to the Source of power and every good thing in your life (Jas. 1:17), fruit will come out of you like never before.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for pruning me. Thank You for fertilizing me! Thank You for removing unnecessary distractions from my life. I want to worship You with my whole heart: all that I am, and all that I have. I want to lean on You like never before! And I know that, as I do, fruit will come off of me like never before, in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.