PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 21:18-22
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“May you never bear fruit again!” (Matthew 21:19)
There are two connected yet unrelated lessons in this reading.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about God’s judgment against fruitless Israel.
Having turned tables in the temple, the fig tree is an object lesson (Jeremiah 8:13)
But the disciples don’t ask about this lesson, they ask about how Jesus did it.
Which leads to the second lesson: with faith, you can do amazing things for God!
We can bear much fruit (good deeds) for God if we trust him for his help.
It is as we invest ourselves in God’s kingdom agenda that we can find God’s support.
We must focus on God’s kingdom purpose, trusting God to provide all we need to succeed.
We can’t curse fig trees or move mountains because it suits us or is what we want.
Jesus’s mission is to seek and save the lost, and is prepared to die for that cause.
We have this same mission, to bring God’s love, joy and peace to a desperate world.
God – not faith or prayer – is the authority and power that stands behind us.
Jesus wants kingdom fruit (results) from us, and he will back us to make it happen.
The fig tree reminds us what happens if we don’t produce kingdom fruit (John 15:1-8).
PRAYER
Lord, if I am not producing kingdom fruit, it is not because your power is lacking. Remind me of my God-potential for good in this world, and help me translate my faith into action!
Bearing fruit – “if you have faith and do not doubt,” – then it is possible to bear fruit. The fig tree had the leaves and the potential – yet there were no signs of any fruit. I have the potential to bear fruit – I must believe that I can share good fruit with others – I must not doubt that I can – but I know I can’t without Jesus – with him I can – with the HS helping me, guiding me, empowering me – then I can. Forgive me Lord for being anxious – I just don’t want my own weaknesses and lack of trust to get in the way!
The purpose of the fig tree is to bear fruit. The tree can also be identified by its fruit.
My words and deeds identify me. Those are my fruit. They need to be the fruit of the Spirit. It is the Lord God Who enables me to produce that fruit. His Spirit leads and guides me, empowers me if I but believe. Increase my faith Lord and make me an instrument of Your peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.