God's Enduring Mercy

TEXT: LUKE 13:1-10

KEY VERSE: “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down” (Luke 13:8,9).

Abraham Lincoln, after General Robert E. Lee had surrendered, spoke to a large crowd from the balcony of the White House. His speech raised some curiosities and Senator Harlan, after listening to Lincoln attentively, asked: “What shall we do with the rebels?” The vindictive crowd shouted back, “hang them!” But Tad, Lincoln’s fourth and youngest son, who was then 11 years old, turned to his father and said: “No, no, Papa. Not hang them. Hang on to them!” Lincoln replied: “That’s it!” That was a call for mercy of the rebels. 

Christ, in His parable of the fig tree, aptly illustrated the mercy of God in not cutting down the fig tree but instead created an enabling environment for it to recover its ability to bear fruit. Although, judgment is delayed for the moment, mercy and justice must, however, go hand in hand. That was why the fig tree was given the opportunity to revive and be fruitful within a given time; otherwise, the axe of judgment would descend upon it without remedy.

When God has borne long, we may hope that He will bear with us yet a little longer, but such hope may be as good as forlorn. While justice is demanding “cut it down; why cumbered it the ground?” mercy is pleading, “let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it.” 

The parable, therefore, is Christ’s call on sinners to rest upon the mercy of God while making haste to get out of sin completely to avoid the danger of being cut down; for “except ye repent”, said He, “ye shall all likewise perish.” 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

- See more by clicking <<daily manna>>

Feel free to share, leave your reactions, comments and suggestions. We would love to hear from you.

THE TRUTH MEDIA

…building the body of Christ.