.png)
For those of you feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, like a failure, exhausted from your hard work that seems to be taking you nowhere, this is for you today. Or maybe you just need to be reminded of a love you forgot you knew. Today, is for encouragement, and truth.
Mark 11:13-14, 19-23
On the day following, when they had come away from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree [covered] with leaves, He went to see if He could find any [fruit] on it [for in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves]. But when He came up to it, He found nothing but leaves, for the fig season had not yet come. And He said to it, No one ever again shall eat fruit from you. And His disciples were listening [to what He said]. And when evening came on, He and His disciples, as accustomed, went out of the city. In the morning, when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which you doomed has withered away! And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.
This scripture is just one more reason I really like the Amplified translation of the Bible. When Jesus was passing by the fig tree it was not actually the season for figs. Reading other translations I used to get so confused. How was it fair for Jesus to be upset with a tree for not producing fruit when it wasn’t even the season for producing fruit?
But the Amplified clarified that for me.
Jesus was not upset that there were no figs when it wasn’t fig season, he was upset that the tree had produced leaves, but no fruit. Look back at that verse. It explains that fig trees don’t produce leaves until they have fruit. This particular tree had leaves, but no fruit.
Jesus was warning us not to be false in appearance. Don’t claim to know Love if you have none of Him within you. As a result Jesus cursed the tree, saying it would never produce fruit again.
How many of us have leaves but no fruit? We are trying to keep it together on the outside, making it look like we have everything figured out, and yet our insides are in chaos and dysfunction? Guess what, Jesus isn’t going to curse you to whither and die. Instead, he chose to take that curse upon himself.
Jesus’ death on the cross means that you and I get to walk under his empowering grace and his unfailing love and mercy. Maybe you are a tree with leaves but no fruit right now. You are saved, you do your best not to say bad words, think bad thoughts, do mean things, but it’s still a real struggle inside. None of it comes naturally. There has been no fruit of your salvation in your life, just striving to make it look good.
Your Heavenly Father has mercy for that season of your life. Romans 8:1 says So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. You are his beloved child, and He sees you redeemed and perfected by the blood of Christ. Listen to this story about a woman who didn’t have much fruit to show.
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?“ “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:1-11
People may cry out for your sins to be revealed and for you to be judged according to their standards of fairness. But Jesus says he already carried your judgment.
Also notice that Jesus wasn’t really speaking to the religious leaders. Don’t get me wrong, the conversation seems to be taking place between them and him, and he definitely teaches them a valuable lesson, but it was all for the benefit of the woman.
Jesus establishes with each word he speaks that he loves, defends, and is willing to forgive this woman. THEN, and only then, after clearly showing her that she mattered to him did he speak “Go and sin no more.”
He only asks for our obedience in response to his love for us. Please, never allow yourself to think of God as a domineering dictator that demands obedience to appease his power-hungry nature. That is NOT his heart. Rather, He is a loving Father, who cares about the children He gave life to.
He only directs you to do the things He knows will be for your benefit. Every move you make, every breathe you take… ok, sorry I won’t actually start singing The Police to you. What I’m trying to say is that everything we do, think, or speak is a move towards life or death. There is no neutral ground. God gives instruction to keep us on the path of life. It’s your choice to obey or not, but it’s only for your benefit that he instructs, and it is all rooted in his love, as a Father, for you.
Without the relationship, your religion is just leaves with no fruit. Don’t bother changing your behavior to keep religious folks happy. It’s not about them. It’s about the Savior who loves you so much that he would lay down his own life so you don’t HAVE to live your life in sin.
So now, how do we produce fruit in our lives? By leaning into the love of our Savior and Father, by walking in obedience as our joyful response to the love poured out for us. Read the word, it’s full of examples of how much God loves you. Then there are instructions to keep you on the path of life, peace, joy, love and so much more. With those instructions come promises of every good thing being poured out upon the ones who walk in relationship with Him.
He doesn’t desire robots that do what He says. He desires children who love Him as He loves them, and share in every good thing that belongs to Him.
You are loved, dearly, deeply, truly.
Be blessed, friend. xoxo
P.S. If some or a lot of what you’ve read is new to you, or you’re not sure what to make of it, head over to my Books & Resources for some of the teaching resources that have taught me on my journey to live by faith.
留言