Luke – Wide Open Doors!
Luke 13, New Living Translation
A Call to Repentance

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Jesus reminds us of our part in this eternal equation of having a new and abiding relationship with God the Father. We must repent. “Unless we repent, we will perish.” We must lay down our selfishness, pride, control of our own destiny, hate, jealousy, wanting our own way with everyone and God, and thinking only of ourselves and repent of all the ways we have been living without Him. New life begins when we sincerely repent with heart’s desire never to return to the scene of the crime of self.
Can we live this new life on our own power and good intentions? No. We enter a battle with the evil one who wants to keep us lost and selfish so we can be destroyed. Satan will do everything in his limited power to distract you from your new life with Jesus. So, we must daily lay down our will for Jesus’ will. Bow at the feet of Jesus in prayer with a listening heart. He wants the best for us. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. HE will fight your battle because HE has already won this war.

What does God find “acceptable”? Holiness from Him through our repentance and remorse that is honest. Micah, the prophet of God says it best,
“What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:6-8 NLT)
We only bring ourselves in humble repentance to Him in the Name of Jesus Christ who paid the debt of our sin. Our work is to now walk in the Way Jesus taught us to walk…do what is right in God’s eyes, be merciful and kind, and walk humble with God! Nothing in this world we can bring to Him is fitting for our Lord…only the emptying of ourselves…so we can be filled with all of Him.

“…the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” Galatians 5:22-26, NLT)
THIS is what it means to find, repent of the sins of the old life, do a 180, and follow Christ. New life is, well…NEW, not like the old!
Are we there yet? Prayerfully we are on our way, His way!
Because if we are not bearing fruit….
Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
HOLY PAUSE…


What do you think?
Are you stuck and stunted in your growth?
Do you need help?
Ask God in Jesus Name and He will provide all you need to continue to grow once more.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,
Thank you for speaking to our hearts about what you want for us. Thank you for tending to our growth with your nurturing hand. Thank you for loving us the way you do. Thank you for renewing my mind and restoring my soul through repentance of going my own way that leads nowhere. Continue to do what you must so I will grow into all you intended me to be. You are God and I am not. You know what is best always.
In Jesus Name, Amen