11/18 Pastor’s Perspective
11-18-22
Pastor's Perspective: "One More Year"
In our Luke study, as Jesus is leaving the Galilean area and heading towards Jerusalem to face the cross, He speaks urgently of repentance. In chapter 13, Jesus tells a parable of a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard, and for 3 years the tree bore no fruit. The owner told the vineyard-keeper to cut the tree down, but the vineyard-keeper asked for one more year to dig around the tree, and to fertilize it. If the tree does not yield the following year, he would agree to cut it down.
This parable is an illustration of God's patience before judgement, which is certain. But, it also reveals the gracious nature of the Vineyard-keeper, giving one more opportunity to repent and be fruitful. Are you living in that "One more year" period of time? Has Jesus been digging around the base of your life, nurturing you, and prodding you to surrender fully to Him? This season of grace will come to an end, and the justice of God must be carried out.
True fruitfulness in our lives always involves a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ. When the Vineyard-keeper digs around the base of your life, the manure that fosters growth may not be pleasant, but the fruit that comes from this will be a blessing to all around you, and spare you from the discipline and judgement of God! Perhaps, we as a nation have been given "one more year" to repent as well. May the Lord dig around the base of this faltering country, and may we as a people be fruitful once more!
Here are a few wonderful opportunities for us to consider:
- Samaritan shoe boxes are due back this Sunday. These will bless children around the world
- We will also be ministering to our friends at the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in Nottoway County. PGH is a 123-bed psychiatric facility that serves individuals over the age of 65. You canadopt a patient and give them gifts this Christmas. Information is in the church foyer.
- Wed evening, Dec 21, we will be Christmas caroling!
See you on Sunday!
Pastor Marv