Monday Reading: Matthew 21:18-22
Key Verse: Matthew 21:19
19 And seeing a fig tree in the way, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And He said to it, let no fruit grow on you forever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.
Devotion:
It is interesting to look at the differences between this recount from Matthew and that from Mark where is says: (Mark 11:13) “And seeing a fig-tree with leaves afar off, He went to it, if perhaps He might find anything on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs.” Mark faithfully recorded that the fig tree was actually out of season and yet Jesus still cursed the plant; why? Well, often in our lives we give what we think are valid excuses for things that we don’t want to do. Jesus was making a point for the disciples and used a simple plant to make sure that they remembered.
As Christians we cannot be in or out of season like plants are. We cannot say that we are not going to spread God’s Word in the winter or during the holidays or during term time... we have to be prepared and willing to show everyone, always, that we are God’s children. We need to bear fruit in all seasons. Jesus did not preach only during the summer or only during the winter; He continued His preaching for the whole time that God wanted Him to preach. When God bid Him to do something, He had no problem with doing it there and then when the time was right. Too many times in our lives we like to choose when we think the time is right rather than following God’s Will and because of that we are not bearing the fruit as well as we could.
We need to have faith in Christ that He knows when it is best for us to do His bidding. We need to rest in Him and know that what He is asking of us is because there is a need and a reason for it there and then. Jesus was hungry at that time; He did not want to have to wait until the right season before the fig tree should bear its fruit... Just like He does not want to have to wait for us to think that the time is right for us! We need to have absolute faith in Him to know that we are safe in His hands and trust Him wholly to know what is best for us. He is willing to give us the strength and wisdom as soon as we ask...
Points to Ponder:
Do you stop eating when you are away from home?
Do you stop being God’s child when you leave church?
