by Rev Douglas Brauner

(The Praying With The Eye devotions will focus on seven of Jesus’ parables over the next seven weeks to coincide with a sermon series at Holy Cross Lutheran Church entitled, “The Kingdom of God Is Like…Changing Culture for the Sake of the World.” This week’s blogs will revolve around the theme of God’s patience, as reflected in the parable of the unfruitful fig tree in Luke 13:6-9.)

God is waiting for us to produce the fruit of Repentance.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'”
Luke 13:8 English Standard Version

This pine tree has grown much in the past nineteen years since we moved into our house. The larger it grows, the more frustrated I get. It’s doing what it’s supposed to do. Every year I clean up double the needles, and double the pine cones, from the previous year. At least that’s how it feels.

I’m tempted to cut it down, because it’s too much work.

The opposite problem sets the stage for Jesus’ parable of the unfruitful fig tree. You might not be familiar with this parable. You may know the parables of the sower, the prodigal son, and of the good Samaritan. However, many are less familiar with this parable. A fig tree has grown for three years, without producing fruit. It is about to be cut down, but the vine dresser begs that it live for one more year.

The vine dresser will not abandon the fig tree. He nurtures it, cares for it, and feeds it. He will do everything he can do to help it produce fruit.

God is patient with us, waiting for us to bear the fruit of repentance (see the first five verses of chapter 13). When it seems that God has had it, when we don’t produce the fruit, the mercy of Jesus kicks in as he intercedes for us. He is giving us more time to return in repentance, and find healing from our sins.

When will God’s patience run out on us? When will the tree be cut down?

My patience with this tree will run out when it dies. Could it be that this is when God’s patience will run out on us too?

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado