Holy Week - Tuesday - A Fig Tree Dies!!!

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Matthew 21:17-22  
Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, 
“How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”  
Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

Jesus had spent the night in Bethany after his very busy Monday....chasing the "thieves" from the temple and healing the sick. He got up the next morning and was hungry, so He decided to have a breakfast of figs.  Now...I don't know about you all...but it wouldn't bother me at all to have a breakfast of "Fig Newtons" and a tall glass of milk .  This wasn't quite the same, though.



When Jesus went to the fig tree to eat from it
(and He already knew it would be barren)
there were no figs on it, only leaves.



Don't you think Jesus was trying to teach His disciples a lesson?



I sometimes wonder if I'm not just like that fig tree....all leaves and no fruit....nothing to really show for being a Christian. I say I'm a Christian, and I "talk the talk"....but shouldn't a Christian bear fruit?  Shouldn't I be witnessing to others, sharing my faith with them, letting them know what Christ has done for me and that He will do the same for them?
Jesus said to the fig tree,
"May you never bear fruit again".
What if He said the same thing to me?
What if I'm not given another chance to be a light for Him?



The disciples couldn't understand how the fig tree had withered and died so fast. Jesus told them that if they just had the faith...and just believed...then, they could do the same things. A lot of people take this scripture literally...that if we pray for something, having the faith that God will answer our prayer, that He is going to grant whatever we pray for, even wealth, fame, possessions!!   A lady told me once that she didn't believe this scripture because she had prayed and asked God for a new car, and she didn't get it!!! I'm not sure if I was able to convince her that this isn't what this scripture is actually saying. Yes, I do believe God will grant our needs....and sometimes our wants....and if our need is a car, then I truly believe that if we ask with faith that God will provide....that He will do what we ask. But, do I think that He's going to send a brand, spanking new, automobile???
I'm not saying that He can't...or that He won't...but, in all likelihood, no.



All God wants of us is our love....and to love us back.
Do you realize that is our "purpose" in life?
It took me many, many years to understand that.
I would hear people talk about their calling, or that they had found their purpose, and they would tell about a ministry they had started, or something they were involved in...and I would wonder in my heart and mind...
"What is my purpose"?
"What am I here for"?



My purpose is to love my precious Savior!!!



In loving God, we are going to want to serve Him...to tell others about Him.
I hope I never get to the place that I no longer want to share with others what He's so graciously, lovingly done for me!!!
If I do, then I hope it's because I've gone to my heavenly home!!!



In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!