FAITH CAPSULE: Do not let your adornment take the place of being fruitful.
Mark 11:1-22
A fig tree was very attractive in the eyes of its creator but there was nothing on it to offer its creator when it was approached. Just like the fig tree, God added all that it takes for us to be attractive enough to meet His expectation when the time for accountability is set. Whenever your attractiveness is used for purposes other than having communion with the Creator, God may deal with you by showing you the futility of your vanity. His making us to be attractive is meant for us to be fruitful for His glory. The fig tree perhaps was the only tree in the region that was mouthwatering. Its leaves were an indication that its fruit was delicious and palatable. Jesus created the fig tree for a purpose. The fig tree was not created to be pleasing to the eye or to be the best looking among the many trees in the garden. Is it you or your congregation like a fig tree that appears to be pleasing to everyone that notices you but yet with nothing to account for? As regard to the attractive fig tree, the Bible states it, “Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” (Mark 11:12-14) Are you one that does not know to be ready to deliver in seasons or out of season to the glory of the creator? The book of 2Timothy4:2 admonished us, “…be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Our creator is capable of showing in season or out of season to ask for our fruit just like He did to the fruitless fig tree. Without any reasonable excuse we are to serve Him in every area of His request.
All of Jesus’ actions, reactions and words were meant to communicate to the people both during His time on earth and after His ascension. How much attention are you devoting to the Word of God? Jesus was not only displaying His power when He approached the unfruitful fig tree by virtue of the inviting leaves it displayed. Jesus was communicating a message through the demonstration of power. Christianity is not just about adornment and Sunday-noise-making. Christianity is about Jesus reality, and Jesus reality is fruitfulness. Do not let your adornment be merely outward by the arrangement of hair, the wearing of gold, or putting on fine apparel. Avoid being a side attraction. All of Jesus expectation is to see our fruitfulness. Be fruitful; win soul to the glory of God.
Prayer for today:Ask Him to deliver you from religion into Jesus reality.