They showed all promise of being committed to God but produced nothing.
Mark 11:12-21
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. 15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from bringing in merchandise. 17 He taught them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus’ teaching. 19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. 20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it was withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. 15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from bringing in merchandise. 17 He taught them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus’ teaching. 19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. 20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it was withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.
Jesus gives us an example of a living parable. The fig tree represented the Jewish nation at that time. They showed all promise of being committed to God but produced nothing. They looked really good to those around them, but their hearts were empty. Their commitment was to themselves and not to the will of God. This was further displayed when Christ entered the temple and drove out all of the money changers. Their focus was not to worship God but to make a profit from all the people who had come to sacrifice to God. The people coming from all over had to have the right money to buy animals. They were being taken advantage of and charged more than fair market price to exchange their money and buy animals for sacrifice. It was the Jews who were doing this in the Temple. They looked like they were serving God but were really serving themselves. Is you Christian walk like the beautiful fig tree, full with leaves but no fruit? Don’t let your Christian walk be like the Jews in Christ’ time, be like the tree that is so full of fruit, it just drops off! If you are not the same person at home as you are at church then you are not living your faith. Do the will of God by producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. Talk to God every day, get to know Him by reading His Word and then live what you have learned.
Have a God Day!
_______________________________________________________________________________You are being prepared to live for eternity.
1 Corinthians 15:54-58
54 When this happens-when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die-then at last the Scriptures will come true: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.
Serving like Jesus means being faithful until the end. Life now is not all there is, you are being prepared to live for eternity. As a believer in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, you will live forever with Him. But until that time, you are to remain faithful to the work of Christ. Nothing you do is too small for Christ. If Christ has called you, do it with enthusiasm and faithfully. Nothing done for Christ is a waste of time. He will not forget the work you do in His name. If you even give a drink of water to a worker of Christ, you have given it to Christ. The true story is told of an usher years ago feeling like the work he did was not important. At a revival meeting, he noticed two young boys come in and there was no place for them to sit and they turned to leave. He went over to them and found them a seat. At the service those two young boys committed their lives to Jesus Christ. One of those boys was Billy Graham. That usher because of his work will have a reward waiting for him because of all the millions of people that came to the Lord through the preaching of Billy Graham. Don’t ever think what you do is too little, just do it for Him and remain faithful to His call.
Have a God Day!
54 When this happens-when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die-then at last the Scriptures will come true: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.
Serving like Jesus means being faithful until the end. Life now is not all there is, you are being prepared to live for eternity. As a believer in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, you will live forever with Him. But until that time, you are to remain faithful to the work of Christ. Nothing you do is too small for Christ. If Christ has called you, do it with enthusiasm and faithfully. Nothing done for Christ is a waste of time. He will not forget the work you do in His name. If you even give a drink of water to a worker of Christ, you have given it to Christ. The true story is told of an usher years ago feeling like the work he did was not important. At a revival meeting, he noticed two young boys come in and there was no place for them to sit and they turned to leave. He went over to them and found them a seat. At the service those two young boys committed their lives to Jesus Christ. One of those boys was Billy Graham. That usher because of his work will have a reward waiting for him because of all the millions of people that came to the Lord through the preaching of Billy Graham. Don’t ever think what you do is too little, just do it for Him and remain faithful to His call.
Have a God Day!
