Fruits || Leaves?

Memory Verse: "....The fig tree, disappointingly, had no figs, only leaves."(Matt.21:19, VOICE, Emphasis mine)

Scripture Reading: Matt.21:18-19.

Reading through Matt.21:18-19, the Bible says, "The next morning, Jesus went back to the city. It was early and He was wanting breakfast, so He stopped at a lone fig tree by the road. The fig tree, disappointingly, had no figs, only leaves. Jesus: May you never bear fruit again!" (VOICE)

Perhaps, you're thinking to yourself that Jesus' statement is a pretty harsh one. After all, it wasn't the tree's fault that it didn't have any figs.

So why did Jesus curse it?

The answer can be found in these words: "seeing that in the fig tree, the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves." By implication, when Jesus saw leaves on the tree, He had a right to expect fruit from it. And when he saw none, He cursed it for seeing a phony while giving off the impression that it was the real thing and had fruits.

There's an important lesson here for each of us. Let's be careful so as not to display an impressive array of leaves without actually having (or bearing) fruit. It takes more than tongue-speaking, bumper stickers, a 'What Would Jesus Do' (WWJD) wrist band, a Jesus pin in your lapel and a big Bible under your arm to influence and win others to Christ.

The Bible says, "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal.5:22-23, TLB).

Thsee are the kind of fruit people can see, touch, taste, relate with and enjoy. And it's this kind God wants to see manifested in you.

Ponder Point: "You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it." (Matt.5:16, VOICE)

Action Point: Bear godly fruits.

Prayer Point: Dear God, possess my being; help me to produce fruits that You approve of in Jesus name, Amen.