Day Twenty-One: Will Jesus Cut Your Fig Tree Down?

“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.” –Luke 13:6-8
 
According to the IVP New Testament Commentary, the fig tree is a common reference to Israel. The message Jesus is giving here is the same that he gives both to individuals and the nation as a whole: repent or judgment is near. Through this passage, we see Jesus’ incredible mercy and grace to his people. Instead of saying they were done, he allows them another year to commune with him in the hopes they will repent.
 
Part of the growth process in spiritual cultivation is the willingness to repent. Growing is the goal; but when those weeds of sin appear, they can choke out the seeds, preventing them from growing into life giving plants. Repentance is the tool we use to rid our soul of those sin- centered weeds.  
 
Have you ever repented of the sin in your life? Repentance is a process. It means confessing with your mouth your specific sin and asking forgiveness from God. If confession is not enough to break the chain of addiction in your life, find a friend you trust to whom you can confess your sin. Satan finds his power in allowing you to keep your sins a secret. Confessing them breaks the stronghold of power it has over you.
 
To whom can you confess your sins so you can practice repentance?