Miracle Moment

“And He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste soil?’ But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9)

From the beginning man has been appealing to God on behalf of his fellow man. In Genesis 18:17-33, the Lord shared with Abraham His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham immediately asked if the Lord would spare the place for 50 good people, He said He would. Abraham, knowing the area, whittled God down to ten people. Unfortunately, out of a whole community ten righteous people could not be found. However, due to Abraham standing in the gap, His nephew Lot and his family were ushered out of town. Had Abraham not spoken up, Lot may have gone down in flames with everyone else there.

In Exodus 32, Moses pleaded with God not to wipe out the Hebrews. God was so aggravated that He even called them Moses’ people. He didn’t want to be associated with them anymore. But Moses talked with Him and appealed to God’s authority, leadership and ability. “But Lord, how will it look that you said you were going to bring them out of Egypt into a land that flowed with milk and honey and then they are destroyed in the wilderness. It will appear that you were unable to fulfill Your word.” Oh my! Through Moses’ heart to heart with the Lord, a whole nation of people was spared.

The Apostle Paul said that he would rather be cursed if it would save his people. During this season of time, Jesus Himself stands as an intercessor on our behalf. No telling how His prayers have helped to orchestrate our lives.

I don’t know a whole lot, but this I do know – prayer works. If it weren’t for people praying for me, I simply don’t know where I’d be today. Lost, misguided, possibly dead, who knows. I thank God for the people who have sown prayer in my life, especially when I was a young, rebellious person headed to hell. I didn’t give two yanks about “doing right.” I was all about me, and I was a destructive, bad, selfish, most unlikely candidate for salvation. Thank God for the prayers of grandmas and saints alike that prayed me into the kingdom of God. Don’t ever give up. When you see destruction coming on those around you, pray, pray hard. Ask God if you can dig around the tree just one more year. Buy that lost person some time, who knows what will happen. Maybe in a year they’ll be producing more fruit than you!

PRAYER:

Father, I lift up those around me who seem so lost. They are caught up in foolishness and in the natural realm they just seem like they’ll never get saved and do right. But you are a God of miracles. I believe you are able to change their hearts and turn them around. I know what you have done for an old, hard-hearted sinner like me. If you can change me, then there is hope for them. I love and appreciate You Lord. I thank You that through the prayers of me and Jesus, we’re going to see great things. Also, thank You for the encouragement of Your Word. I’m going to keep the hope and keep pressing in. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.