Tag: Job 23:10-11
Repentance, digging, manure
Scripture reading for March 19: Luke 13
Key Scriptures: Luke 13:5-9 “No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. And He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”
Jesus used the local news of the death of some Galileans by Herod’s forces and the accidental death of eighteen people in the fall of a tower to punctuate the need of all men to repent or they too would suddenly perish. He told a parable of a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard. Each year, for three years, he came seeking fruit but found none. He ordered the vinedresser to cut it down as it was wasting valuable space in the vineyard. The vinedresser asked for more time. He would dig around it and put manure on it. Maybe it was lacking in water penetration or in nutrients from the rocky soil. If ultimately there was no fruit, it would be cut down. This parable shines light on each person and their need to repent and show fruit of repentance. God’s patience is amazing, but not unlimited!
Luke 11:32 “The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, realizing that You greatly desire true fruit of repentance in my life, thank You for Your patience with me. Dig around in my life where necessary with Your Word and the Holy Spirit. Bring the ‘manure’ of life that will produce greater fruit, to Your glory.
Job 23:10-11 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside.”
Behold! The Lord is coming!
Scripture reading for December 22nd: Job 21-23, Psalm 101, Revelation 16
Key Scriptures: Revelation 16:12-17 “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, an its water dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
John watched as the seven angels with the seven bowls of God’s wrath poured them out upon the earth. The sixth angel poured his bowl on the Euphrates river and its water dried up and made a roadway for the kings of the east. Then John observed three unclean spirits, like frogs, spewing out from the mouths of the dragon and false prophet. These unclean spirits would draw the kings of the whole world to gather for the final battle against God in the valley of Armageddon. Jesus then broke into John’s vision with a Word of Wisdom: “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” Jesus is totally in control!
Psalm 101:4 “A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You have revealed the final judgments falling upon the earth, the dragon, and false prophet and those under their control. I will hold fast to Your Word; let the Holy Spirit clothe me with Your righteousness today that I may be ready for Your amazing return!
Job 23:10-11 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside.”