DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 10 January 2024

TOPIC: Priming for Fruitfulness

TEXT: LUKE 13:1-10 
13 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

⁶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

¹⁰ And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

KEY VERSE
“And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it”
(Luke 13:8).

Daily Manna 10 January 2024 Message

Doctors look for vital signs to assess a person’s most essential health condition. It may involve taking body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, etc. These vital signs may reveal a patient’s present health condition and assist the health professional in prescribing relevant treatment.

In this parable, Jesus spoke about a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard. For three years, the man sought fruit from the tree and found none. He then decided the tree should be cut down, but the dresser (farm help) pleaded for another year for him to dig about it and dung it.

READ Daily Manna Tuesday 9 January 2024 – Spirit of Giving

This parable speaks about Israel and believers today as the fig tree in the vineyard. Israel was termed the degenerate vine, just as many professing Christians today do not bear fruits. Many Jews thought being descendants of Abraham was all that was necessary, but John, the Baptist, told them to bring forth the “fruit of righteousness.” For believers today, being saved alone is not enough. There must be a deliberate effort to bear the fruit of righteousness. Fruit-bearing is the measure of a purposeful life. You cannot be a disciple of Christ and be fruitless. To bear fruit, you must abide in Christ. It is like a tree – the more the root is sunk downward, the more fruits it will bear.

As the dresser in the parable advised, God allows an extended opportunity of time for inducement for fruitfulness. Things that hinder fruit-bearing should be taken out and spiritually nourishing incentives should be applied. Cut off all forms of frivolities, talkativeness, wrong associations, etc. that hinder you from bearing fruit. As a child of God, the deeper you search and dig into His word and obey Him, the more fruits you will bear.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Fruit-bearing determines your spiritual viability.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 22-23