This year also

 

“This year also” Luke 13.8

The title of this message comes from a parable spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ, recorded in Luke 13.6-9. He had just warned His hearers about the need for them to turn away from their sins, and of the terrible consequence of refusing to do so: they would perish, Luke 13.1-5. 

In the parable, He told of a man who had planted a fig tree in his vineyard, and who for three years had come expecting it to bear fruit, but it had failed to do so. His mind was that his vinedresser should cut the unfruitful tree down there and then, but the employee replied that he should “let it alone this year also”. This would be the last opportunity: if, with this extra time, and the best of care, it bore fruit, that would be a happy outcome; if not, then it should certainly be cut down.

How many times would you forgive someone?

I have no doubt that many of us are carrying some deep wounds that we’ve carried for months, maybe even years. When we think about that person who hurt us, it’s still as fresh as if it happened this morning. The pain is still there, and we’re still filled with resentment. We say, 'Why in the world should I forgive that person who hurt me so much?'  'You have no idea how much they hurt me.'  'Why should I offer kindness to that person?'

In a nutshell - Part 2 - The Old Testament in a nutshell

 

                                                            All photos courtesy of Unsplash

In my previous post, I talked about the expression ‘in a nutshell’. It’s quite quaint and quirky, but it gets the message across. I was interested to discover that the expression originated in Greece and alludes to the Roman writer Pliny's description of Homer's Iliad being copied in so tiny a hand that it could fit in a nutshell. It has come to mean that you get all the key information you need in a precise statement.

The Lord Jesus used this idea in Matthew chapter 7 when He talked about how to treat other people. Jesus said, ‘do unto others as you want them to do to you’. We often call this the golden rule. He ended this lesson by saying, ‘this is the law and the prophets’ - in a nutshell.

Again Matthew records Jesus teaching in chapter 22 of his gospel. He taught that the law and the prophets hang on two statements.

1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and;
2. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Peace - do you have it?

PEACE: IS IT YOURS?

IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR PEACE?

The endless wars, conflicts, and injustices we see in the world today only prove what the Bible has always declared concerning mankind: "The way of peace have they not known" Romans 3.17.

All efforts to achieve lasting peace fail miserably because the root of the problem is not dealt with. God alone has the solution to the problem of peace - not only for nations, but also for you. He has successfully dealt with the root cause of all turmoil - sin.

Now He offers sure and lasting peace for both the heart and conscience through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to the comforting words of Jesus: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14.27.