Luke 13:8 (icb)
But the servant answered, “Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and put on some fertilizer.”
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When I became a Christian, my life got messier. I’m not just talking about a small mess, I mean complete chaos. The things I thought I knew were no longer valid. The things I spent my days doing seemed less important. The plans I had became worthless. Truthfully, I was heartbroken. I thought I was making a choice to have a better life, but things had really only seemed to get harder.
Like me, a lot of new Christians make the mistake of thinking that a life with Jesus is easy. That’s a myth and something that God never promises us. In scripture, we’re promised joy and peace through faith and hope; not through an easy life. In fact, Jesus promises the opposite; John 16:33 says that “…in this world, you will have trouble.” And just a chapter before today’s verse, in Luke 12:51 Jesus says, “Do you think I came to bring on earth? No, I tell you.”
Living as a Christian in a broken world is difficult for many reasons, and one of those reasons is the constant work that Jesus is doing in our lives. This parable from the book of Luke starts with a fig tree that wasn’t producing fruit. The owner of the vineyard wanted to cut it down, but the gardener goes to bat for the tree, promising to dig up the dirt, work with it, and help it grow.
Jesus is that gardener. When He came to earth, died on the cross, and took responsibility for our sins, He also took responsibility for us. He knew the fruit that we were capable of producing, but He also knew the work it would take us to get there. He knew we couldn’t do it alone, and He loves us too much to let us be “cut down”.
If you visualize a plant or a tree being dug up, you probably envision a mess. There’s dirt everywhere, and the roots attached to that plant are attached deep within the soil. It’s not a quick, easy process to dig up something that’s taken root. Sin has taken root in our lives. It surrounds us. Jesus came to dig it up so that we might produce fruit. Fruit like love, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. Those fruits don’t come from an easy life; they come from a lot of work and persevering through challenging seasons.
If you’re facing a challenge, remember that Jesus is working. When I’m struggling with something difficult, I try to bring that plant visualization back to my mind. The plant might not understand why its world is being disrupted, but the Planter does. The process will ultimately bring goodness to that plant, but that goodness will come only through the process.
Jesus isn’t just digging up the dirt, He’s also fertilizing it. I’m not a gardener; in fact, almost every plant I’ve ever brought home is no longer with us. So I decided to look up what fertilizer actually does, and here’s the description I found on gardeners.com: “Plants need to be fertilized because most soil does not provide the essential nutrients required for optimum growth. Even if you are lucky enough to start with great garden soil, as your plants grow, they absorb nutrients and leave the soil less fertile. Remember those tasty tomatoes and beautiful roses you grew last year? It took nutrients from the soil to build those plant tissues. By fertilizing your garden, you replenish lost nutrients and ensure that this year’s plants have the food they need to flourish.”
Jesus is supplying us with the necessary nutrients we need for optimum growth. He isn’t just digging things up and leaving us to figure it out; He’s providing those nutrients through the growth process, the Word, and the people He places in our lives. You’re not alone in your mess. You’ve been given a promise for hope and a future. You have the best Gardener working in your life every day, and He’s fighting for you.
Write
Can you think of any “messes” that you’re currently facing? Do you think there’s a chance this is the result of Jesus digging up the dirt in your life? If so, what steps can you take today to aid in your growth?
Pray
For development of your spiritual fruits.
10 minPrep Time
20 minCook Time
30 minTotal Time
Serves 6-7 Muffins
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- 1.5 overly ripe, mashed bananas
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sweetener
- 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sweetener
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In a bowl, mash bananas until texture is smooth
- Add granulated sweetener, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract and mix just until combined
- In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well
- Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and mix until smooth, slowly adding the water, chocolate chips, and blueberries
- Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray and spoon batter evenly into tin, about 3/4 of the way full
- Combine all ingredients for crumble topping and mix
- Spoon topping evenly on to muffins
- Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top and a toothpick comes out clean from the center
Tips & Tools
Okay, here’s the thing… this crumble topping is delicious, but it comes with a lot of added sugar and calories. It makes these muffins a little more indulgent; bakery-style if you will. They are amazing without it, and if you’re going for a nutritious breakfast – I’d skip it! If this is going to be a family-around-the-counter-kind-of-Saturday morning and you want to wow them with your pastry skills, go for it! Without the crumble, each muffin is around 135 calories (using swerve zero calorie sweetener).
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