Today Our Daily Bread Luke 13

Luke 13: 1 - 35
1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem. 2 "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people from Galilee?" he asked. "Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish."

6 Then Jesus used this illustration: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's taking up space we can use for something else.' 8 "The gardener answered, 'Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.'"
10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are healed of your sickness!" 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised and thanked God! 14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. "There are six days of the week for working," he said to the crowd. "Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath." 15 But the Lord replied, "You hypocrite! You work on the Sabbath day! Don't you untie your ox or your donkey from their stalls on the Sabbath and lead them out for water? 16 Wasn't it necessary for me, even on the Sabbath day, to free this dear woman F62 from the bondage in which Satan has held her for eighteen years?" 17 This shamed his enemies. And all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.
18 Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds come and find shelter among its branches."
20 He also asked, "What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 It is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount F63 of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."
22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He replied, 24 "The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter, 25 but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, 'I do not know you.' 26 You will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you. Go away, all you who do evil.' 28 "And there will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets within the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 Then people will come from all over the world to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; and some who are greatly honored now will be despised then. F64 "
31 A few minutes later some Pharisees said to him, "Get out of here if you want to live, because Herod Antipas wants to kill you!" 32 Jesus replied, "Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and doing miracles of healing today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. 33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem! 34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. 35 And now look, your house is left to you empty. And you will never see me again until you say, 'Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!' F65 "
FOOTNOTES:F62: Greek this woman, a daughter of Abraham. F63: Greek 3 measures. F64: Greek Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. F65: Ps 118:26. The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
Persecution is unfair in its nature and cruel, many times with no justice, but what seems rather a great injustice. Do we seek the justice or the salvation? Sin is sin, it all offends God, no matter the reason. There is no reason to being separated from God, but rather in being re-joined to Him. If persecution leads to death, may that death be a uniting with God and not a separating from Him. Those who are left must be cautious in their hearts that we not judge situations or else we also enter into sin, which has its purpose in bringing separation of us from God. The point is not the manner in which one dies, all die. The point is do they die in Him or not, in eternal life or in eternal death.
I know the fig tree instance has many different similitudes, one being the life of Christ on earth and how He came to save the Jews who did not believe in Him and so His message spread outward to all nationalities. It shows me that we have a certain amount of time here on earth, as Jesus also did, an appointed by God timeframe. We also have a purpose to fulfill, as Christ also did and as this tree in its planting also had. The tree, when planted had an expectation placed upon it, it was subject to seasons of growth, it responded to its environment accordingly. Even in all natural senses it was expected to produce – fruit, but in an unusual way it did not produce any. To not produce any fruit was not even normal in a natural sense. There was even extra effort put into the promotion of its growth and chances given to see that growth come forth. This is how God treats us in the growth of our faith. I believe when He plants in us there is complete expectation for fruit to be produced in us. He is patient and nurturing of this fruit. We also must be patient of others and the growth of their faith. BUT, the natural and spiritual reality of it all is there is a time and season, and a purpose to be fulfilled, if we do not or will not produce our time will come where we cannot. Our time will be up. Time is a factor here. Time is of the essence
.If we cannot stand we will fall, we must be healed and stand for His kingdom and heal others so that they also may stand. The expectation of God for the word made alive and active in us is that it would grow and become of use to others for food and shelter. It should have great influence on anyone we encounter. If it is alive in us it cannot help but permeate not only our being, but also the lives of those we meet and mingle with everyday
.We have so many excuses here on earth. The world has opened up to us so many opinions about everything, we have such liberty to choose. The more we are influenced by the world’s ways the less we are able to make the kingdom. The way is so narrow and our heads have been filled with such broad thinking. We are subject to it here by choice. If we choose we are His subjects or we are the world’s. Both are choices we make. We need to make our informed decisions based on the witness of our eternal hearts, not based upon what we feel is right or have been misinformed by opinions of men. When we stand before God in judgement we will have no excuse available, We will stand in purity before Him, there will be no masks on at all. In fact we will know all things suddenly. We will know good, evil, death and life. The excuses will be nothing at all. THAT is where we need to get to here and stay there in our daily thinking. The weeping and gnashing will be from the realization that we actually chose the broad way, and for what? For nothing at all, except an eternal death. We will be so regretful that we did not serve Him or choose His ways here. Again, time is of the essence. It is not worth "wasting" another day on matters of self or of petty opinions of the world. Satan knows our days here are short, oh so very short in eternal light. He also knows if we waste our days he has won a certain victory over God’s kingdom, in this he has found joy in his anguish. How can I give him glory and honor? How can I give him praise? I cannot, and must decide I will not!