CAC Living Water Devotional For June 18, 2022 : Topic – The withered fig tree

CAC Living Water Devotional For June 18, 2022 : Topic – The withered fig tree

 

Read previous CAC Devotionals here

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH LIVING WATER DEVOTION GUIDE July -December 2022

Day 169/365

Saturday, June 18, 2022

The withered fig tree

Read Matthew 21v18-19

18 ESV:In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.

19 ESV:And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

Memorise: ESV:Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15v2).

Exposition

Towards the time of the crucifixion and the last week of the ministry of our Lord Jesus on earth, He taught some vital lessons of life. He left Bethany and way hungry. Seeing an apparently fruitful fig tree, He went to take some of the fruits, but surprisingly found nothing on it, expect leaves. Humanly speaking, Jesus expectation was dashed, hence the curse He placed on the tree. That fig tree could be described as empty, just like what happens to the land bedevilled by desertification and drought. Recall that the world just deliberated on ways of combating desertification and drought, yesterday.

The fig tree pointed to the spiritually dead Jewish religious leaders of Jesus days. Today, it can be also be applied to all professed children of God who aren’t bearing God-pleasing fruit. Jesus used an object lesson to demonstrate the hypocrisy of God’s people. Cursing the fig tree was Jesus way of displaying that the whole nation had become spiritually empty. They had the form of religion, but not reality (c.f.. 2 Tim.3v5).

So many Christian today are full of religious activities in the body of Christ. They appear to be religious, but don’t bear fruit for the Master. They have the language of Christianity and the Church, but actually fail to live like Christ. They have all the signs of spiritual life, but lack fruit (2 Tim.3v5). Some churches have large attendance, but are devoid of faith, love and holiness. These high price being charismatic (gifts), but lack the christlike character (fruit). True living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person’s life, and genuine faith is more than outward religion.

The Christian life is about growing and producing fruit that glorifies God (Gal. 5v22,23). When we are all leaves and no fruits we are living in hypocrisy, and Jesus won’t condone that. If you make profession of Christ, let His fruit (the beauty of Christ) be seen in you. Do not be cumbersome with just lesves; bear fruit for the Master. Jesus is coming soon. He will curse the fruitless tree.

Prayer points

1. Pray that God will forgive you of those areas of your life where you have fallen short of His expectations.

2. Pray that God will help you bear much fruit for Him, even as you devote yourself to His service.

3. Pray for CAC Hanson Region, our father in the Lord, the Superintendent, and it’s officers at the various levels, as led by the spirit of God.

Extra Reading for Today: psalms 36-39

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