BBD 02.16.13 Bearing Fruit
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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02.16.13
Bearing Fruit
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.”
Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it,
they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So
Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have
faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig
tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast
into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer,
believing, you will receive.” - Matthew 21:18-22 NKJV.
Fruit trees are expected to eventually bear fruit. The age of trees
before they actually do bear fruit varies. Apricot, peach, plum, and
cherry trees usually begin to bear fruit at three years from planting.
Pear trees take even longer to bear fruit with it sometimes taking six
or seven years before they will bear fruit. Apple trees can take even
longer, taking as much as ten years before one of those trees will
produce fruit. (umaine.edu - cooperative extension)
Just as, fruit trees are expected to eventually bear fruit, so are
Christians. Maybe this is one of the lessons we learn from Jesus and
the fig tree. It seems to be a strange scene, Jesus apparently is
hungry, but when He finds a fig tree He finds no figs. Jesus responds
by supernaturally zapping the tree and it instantly withers away. If
nothing else, it should be a warning to all fruitless Christians that
God expects you to bear fruit, and it appears that there may be
consequences if you do not bear fruit.
Why do fruit trees fail to bear fruit? Again from the helpful
University of Maine website I found that there are four general
reasons for failure to bear fruit. Trees may fail to form flowers,
there may be flower bud death from cold injury or frost, lack of
pollination, and insect damage to fruits. We can relate this to why
Christians sometimes fail to bear fruit.
First, the failure to form flowers. Why does this happen to fruit
trees? It can happen from a lack of the proper nourishment. Trees need
fertile soul and some water. Christians fail to form flowers for the
same reason through a failure to maintain proper nourishment. The
nourishment that Christians need comes from the Word of God. As Jesus
says in Matthew 4:4 NKJV, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Second, bud death from cold or frost. In trees, it simply happens when
the bud freezes, or becomes cold enough to cause damage. A similar
thing can happen to baby Christians. An older Christian, or someone
that has been a Christian longer can have a damaging impact upon a new
Christian. Discouragement can happen any many ways. One of the most
frequent is hearing Christians being hypercritical of others. A
fruitless, heartless, mean-spirited person that presents themselves as
being a faithful Christian can cause immense damage to the young
children of God.
Third, lack of pollination. There has to be interaction between the
trees with the spread of pollen between them. It occurs through the
wind, bees, and birds. For Christians to grow we need to have
interaction with other Christians. That is why the Bible tells us in
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV, “And let us consider one another in order to
stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so
much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Fourth, insect damage to the fruit. Insects can wipe out a fruit crop;
wrecking immense damage. False teachers can do the same to young
Christians. In 2 Peter 2:1-2 NKJV we are told, “But there were also
false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers
among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even
denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift
destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of
whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
Are you bearing fruit in your life? If not, check for how the fruit in
your life may have been damaged. Then begin to make repairs by giving
yourself what you need to produce fruit, and protect yourself from
what will damage the fruit in your life.
Copyright © 2013. Ed Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online
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