Based on Luke 13:6-9

MEMORY TEXT:  “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

The gardener was interceding for the fig tree.  What it is the gardener prayed for?  It was for a reprieve: “Lord, let it alone this year also.”  He didn’t pray, Lord, let it never be cut down, but, Lord, not now.  It is a blessing to barren trees to be reprieved.  Some haven’t yet repented.  God is merciful to allow them more time to repent, just as He allowed the old world 120 years to make their peace with God.  We owe it to Christ, the great Intercessor, that barren trees are not cut down immediately.  If it hadn’t been for His intervention, the whole world would have been cut down when Adam sinned.  But He said, Lord, let it alone.

As Christ’s fellow workers, we are encouraged to pray that God will be merciful to barren fig-trees: "Lord, let them alone; let their probation continue a while longer; bear with them a little longer, and wait to be gracious.’’  In this way, we can stand in the gap, to turn away wrath.  We can pray for the reprieve of others, but not for their pardons.  They must exercise their own faith and repentance, or else there can be no pardon.

The gardener promised to do all he can if there is a reprieve: “Till I shall dig about it, and dung it.”  Our prayers must always be accompanied with works.  The gardener seemed to say, "Lord, maybe I haven’t done everything I should for this tree; but let it alone this year, and I will do more than I have done before.’’  Likewise, in our prayers we must request God’s grace, with a humble promise to do our duty.

“But,” the gardener adds, “if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”  Though God bears long, He will not always bear with unfruitful trees.  His patience will come to an end, and barren trees will certainly be cut down and cast into the fire.  Cutting down, though it must be done, is work that God does not take pleasure in.

Today, I want to be a fruitful tree that serves as an example to others.