Cultivate

Sweet Miss O in Summer Garden

One Sunday morning I prayed that our worship would be pleasing to God.

What was I hoping for? Maybe to be uplifted, to feel pleased with what I heard and thought? To think it was good? A fresh hearing of the Word?

It was similar to most services I’ve been part of for years but this Sunday my ears perked up; I looked up. What was that? I don’t actually recall hearing this verse at the end of the parable.

Really, if you regularly attend church, maybe even read the Bible daily or study it, how often do you hear a passage, a verse or phrase that you don’t recall hearing? I don’t mean a different way to understand it or definitions that are new. I mean “Wait…I don’t think I have heard that before.”

That was m that morning. The startling response of the vineyard worker encouraged my heart and assured me.

There is hope.

 How many times did Jesus tell parables that related to planting and growing. Farming. This short parallel tucked in with so many that speak of repent or perish this one is easily skimmed over.

Jim at Martha Washington’s Garden, Mount Vernon

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’  “Sir”, the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” Luke 13:3-6

There is hope.

Cultivate

Cutting it down is just so final. I just didn’t remember the farmer asking to leave the fig tree alone for just one year. Give me a chance Sir; give me a year to cultivate it so it might bear fruit. Please don’t give up yet.

Not final.

Cultivate

Keep on praying on all things.

Cultivate. Hope. Talk with God

Other related passages to consider

Genesis 18:23-32 reminded me God is slow to anger and He is merciful and is always holy when Abraham pleads to save Sodom with God

 2 Peter 3:9 says He keeps His promises and His consistent character. He doesn’t give up on us. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

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