Fruit

Went berry picking early this morning with my brother (who is visiting us for a short while) and my kids. Just seeing a whole bunch of fruit is quite uplifting and there’s nothing more fulfilling than harvesting and picking fruit.

The Fig Tree Withered

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. ¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

²¹ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Matthew 21:18-22

We can see how disappointing it was for Jesus (and for anyone really) to expect fruit only to find none. In the same manner, the Lord expects His followers to bear fruit and mature in the faith. The passage shows us to have the kind of faith that is bold and uncompromising in our convictions – one that leaves no room for double-mindedness. Being double-minded is one of the reasons why prayers are not being answered.

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:6-8

• Have you asked Him for guidance in a life-changing decision that is weighing you down?
• Have you prayed for the salvation of loved ones?
• Have you prayed for deliverance from what is keeping you from your commitment to live the Spirit-filled life?
• Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior?

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

May your faith increase and bear fruit that is acceptable and pleasing to the Father.