Dear Reader,
GOD WANTS YOU TO BE FRUITFUL. May you be blessed by today's post.
Mark 11:12-14 – “The next morning as they were leaving
Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. 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. Then Jesus
said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples
heard him say it.”
The first
thought that came to my head when I read this verse was this: “What do people see when they come close to
me?” Often times, I might have the “appearance” of godliness but in all
truth, I am empty and unfruitful when Jesus saw the fig tree in full lead, He
had an expectation, and this expectation was to find fruit to eat. But when He
came closer, there was NO FRUIT. I can imagine the disappointment He must have
felt. Are people disappointed when they come close to me? Do they regret
establishing a relationship with me? Do they come with an expectation to “eat”
from my life only to find nothing?
People should
be able to eat from my life. My life must be filled with God’s Word. I must not
be busy adorning my outside looks with religiousity while falling short of
having a life that can benefit and lead others to Jesus. Jesus hates unfruitfulness.
He doesn’t take it lightly when I am not bearing fruit, when I am not feeding
others, pouring into their lives or bringing souls to the kingdom. I have been
created to be fruitful and not just to ‘look’ fruitful. My Christian life should
have substance. Jesus cursed the tree that was unfruitful. I must be careful
not to incur upon myself the judgement of God because of my failure to be
unfruitful.
When I am
fruitful, I must be fruitful in season and out of season. God wants me to
ALWAYS be fruitful. Yes, the Bible says it was too early in the season for
figs, but research also shows that when a fig is of fruit bearing age, it will
always have both leaves and fruit in spring (when the story was said to have happened).
The fruit may not be ripe (meaning not in season), but there should be a
presence of fruit.
I have
been placed strategically at this point in my life to nourish a life with the Word
of God in me. That is why the Word of God must always be at the tip of my
tongue to encourage, admonish and counsel. People are yearning to know God. They
are hungry for the truth; for freedom; for satisfaction. Only Jesus can grant
them all that. Will my life be a place of encounter and nourishment for such
people?
Dear God,
It is Your desire that I be fruitful at all times. When
people are attracted to me, may they not be disappointed by what they see when
they come close. In Jesus’ name I have prayed. Amen.
#selah
In Christ,
Shanpepe
May God bless you for this piece. It really got me thinking about so many things that bothers on our work and walk with God. But most importantly, oftentimes some us of neglect the aspect of bearing fruit and concentrate more on producing more leaves forgetting that we are saved to save others. The bible wants us to be like a tree planted by the riverside, which brings forth fruit and whose leaf never withers. A friend once told me that "we are not saints because we are perfect, we are saints because we serve a perfect savior". Which brings me to the fact that it's possible to have misconceptions about ourselves. We may think we are bearing fruit, but in the real sense, it's only the leaves that increase on daily basis. And, no matter the number of leaves on a tree, they can never make a fruit.
ReplyDeleteWhat we really need is a time to reexamine ourselves on constant basis. The bible warns that let him that stands be careful, less he falls. Every now and then, we need to know where we are in our walk and work for God. I see God helping us
Some thought provoking observations you have made in your comment! God bless you and thank God for the revelation of His Word!
ReplyDeleteHallelujah 🙌🙌🙌
ReplyDelete