Faith and Figs
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.” And His disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14) Jesus was hungry, and the fig tree had no figs to satisfy His hunger — it was not the season for figs. Even so, the Lord has little tolerance for fruit trees with no fruit, even when it is out of season. Spiritually speaking, seasons do not have to do with the time of year, but with faithfulness and fruitfulness. In other words, the season for fruit is whenever Jesus is hungry — and that may be at any given moment. Therefore, the fig tree failed the most basic test of being ready in and out of season. Is there fruit hanging from your branches today? Is it the fruit of the Spirit? ...