Always Be Ready

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” (Matthew 21:18-19)

When Jesus encounters the fig tree, He finds it fruitless, and He is greatly displeased, because He was hungry. His disappointment with the tree is actually quite surprising, considering the fact that it was not the season for figs -- When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. (Mark 11:13b) Yet, He cursed the tree for fruitlessness anyway! Jesus was obviously expecting figs, even though it was not fig season. The only conclusion we can possibly come to is this -- when Jesus is looking for fruit, we had better have fruit. In other words, Be ready in and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2)

The Lord does not view times and seasons the way we do. He is not bound by the clock on the wall, because He is sovereign, and His reign is eternal. When we were born again in the Spirit, He placed eternity in our hearts, and we began to comprehend life in the Spirit. We are no longer limited in our thinking and doing, because we have entered a realm where we understand spiritual things, where nothing is impossible, and the impossible is nothing! When we rightly esteem the Spirit-filled life, we will always be prepared for the divine moments and encounters Jesus engineers. We are always ready to glorify our God, and we are true to Him no matter the cost. May the Lord find our branches laden with the fruits of the Spirit, and may Jesus be refreshed and glorified in us no matter the season. 

Let's Pray - Father, I realize You will return like a thief in the night. Therefore, I am to be ready for Your return. May You find acceptable spiritual fruit on my branches, and may that fruit refresh You and bring You glory. Amen.