Luke 13:6-9

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.’”

We bought an indoor/outdoor key lime tree in the middle of summer. It was doing great! I have never grown or taken care of a lime tree before, but whatever we did worked. It blossomed and I was sure that meant we would get a lime or two. Wow!

Then when the weather got colder we brought it inside and something happened to it. Maybe we forgot to water it enough. Maybe it wasn’t getting enough sunlight. Maybe our ignorance about lime trees caught up with us. It started shedding flowers and leaves. It wasn’t looking particularly great.

I wanted to get rid of it, but my wife convinced me otherwise. She looked at it and noticed a few small leaves sprouting. She thought it was coming back so we are keeping it and see what happens.

In Luke 13, Jesus told a story about a gardener who did the same thing. He wanted to save a tree, take care of it, fertilize it, and give it extra attention so as to not cut it down. The point?

Jesus loves to tend to people even when their faith is falling apart and the fruits of faith have dried up. I’m so thankful Jesus isn’t quick to “cut me down” when I don’t have lots of fruits of faith. I need his patience and compassion.

Think of the patience Jesus shows to you in your life. Have you always been a “budding and flourishing” tree of faith? Have there been seasons when your faith has weakened or the fruits Jesus wants – love, joy, peace, patience and more – haven’t been present?

Give thanks to your Savior who shows us compassion and patience, tending our faith to bring it back livelier and more fruitful. Rest assured, your Savior wants you to have a stronger faith. Welcome his tending and gardening with joy.