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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 round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’ (Luke 13:1-9)
Happy Monday, dear Friend! I pray that the weekend brought time for renewal and refreshing in your spirit and life. I pray this time with God in prayer, reading, reflecting, and rejoicing, will fill you with goodness enough to spare!
During the time of Jesus there we tragedies that affected most of the people, including the disciples and Jesus as well. There had been a murder of Galileans by Pilate and his armies and when they had the chance, they mingled the blood of the dead with those offered too their gods. This was unholy in so many ways, the 12 had to ask about it. We live in a time when people at worship are mowed down in a senseless way; the most recent 50 Muslims in New Zealand murdered while in worship. In the Philippines, 20 or more also blown in a bombing in a Catholic Church. These beg our asking, like the disciples, why? Jesus' response addressed part of the why; were these Galileans worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, Jesus replies, "but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." Another tragedy struck down 18 people when a tower of Siloam fell. Jesus asked if they were worst offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? "No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." Was Jesus talking about just the earthly part of death or was He addressing the eternal part of death as well? I suspect it was both, for all stand in need of repentance. Repentance is hearing that what we think is okay is really not in God's eyes; We all stand in need of repenting of our sins. Jesus and John the Baptist had come with that message; The only one who can take away sins is God, and even John, when pointing to Jesus said, "Behold, He who takes away the sins of the world." Yes, He still does. It falls on us to humbly and sincerely turn to the Lord and repent of our sins. The Lord is gracious and mighty, and will remove the sins from our lives. Again, Micah 7:19 said that the Lord casts our iniquities into the deepest part of the sea, and John in Revelation 21:1, "and the sea was no more." How more final can that be?
Hear the invitation from the Lord to ask of Him the removal of our sins, and He will do it. He removes the burden of our sins and the weight of our guilt and frees us to live life in an abundant way. That, my dear friend, is good news!
PRAYER: Loving Father, speak to my heart and receive my prayer as I turn away from my sin and ask that You remove it from my life. I am weak and heavy-laden by those things I have said, thought, or done against You and against others; free me for joyful obedience I pray, in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live a life that blesses those around you with hope and joy!
Eradio Valverde
