Luke 13:1-9
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. —Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
At our local grocery store, they often have flower bargains and markdowns after the weekend rush. When I went to the store after Easter, there were some Easter lilies on the bargain table. Most now displayed only drooping, lifeless flowers. But there were a few that still had some unopened buds and one with no opened flowers at all. I bought that one.
A week after Easter when still no buds had opened, I wondered if it would ever bloom. But after two weeks, one of the three buds opened fully in perfect splendor. Soon all three buds had bloomed. It was beautiful.
The parable of the fig tree illustrates the patience of the gardener. The landowner wanted to chop down the tree, but the gardener said to wait another year. And God is like the gardener, waiting for the bearing of fruit and nurturing the soil. God waits and hopes for each of us to bloom. Even when we may grow frustrated by waiting, God is patient, loving, and never casts us aside.
Prayer: O Lord, we thank you for your patient love. Thank you for always encouraging us and never giving up on us. Amen.
Thought for the day: I will wait patiently for my time to bear fruit for the Lord.
Mike C. Bertoglio (Washington, USA)
