For your reflection...

We’ve been taught about cause and effect since elementary school days. You may even remember those exercises your teachers gave you, “Pick the conjugation that best combines the cause and effect sentences.” Or maybe you’ve recently taught your children about cause and effect, “Don’t touch the iron, it is hot, and can burn you!” We’ve all learned about cause and effect from a very early age.

So it’s no wonder the crowd in Luke 13 comes to Jesus asking about the cause and effect relationship between the death of some Galileans or those living in Jerusalem, wondering about what caused their deaths? Wasn’t tragedy God’s punishment for sin? And even if it wasn’t punishment for their own sin, weren’t their parents or ancestors to blame? Jesus answers the crowd with a definitive no.

Likewise, Jesus answers us with a definitive no. Tragedy is not correlated with sin. We will indeed be judged, but judgment has not arrived. And that’s the good news, we still have our lives in which we can repent, and in which we can bear fruit worthy of being called God’s children. Like the fig tree that is given that free gift of time, that grace, so too are we given the grace and time to bear fruit. We are given the grace and the opportunity to live fruitful lives worthy of followers of Christ. 

Back to elementary school.  Name the cause? The grace and mercy shown to us in Christ's life given for us.  Now demonstrate the effect?  The fruitful lives we live in response to that love and that mercy.  In what ways are you bearing that fruit?

Don't Forget to Mark your Calendar...

Thursday March 11 - Caretakers Meeting - 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Building

Sunday March 14 - Local Outreach Funds Meeting - 12:00 pm in the Parlor

Sunday March 21 - Liturgist Training - 9:30 a.m. in the Parlor

Sunday March 21 - VBS Planning meeting - 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Click here for more information about Lenten Activities at FCC!