10 February 2010 - Morning Manna

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
(Matthew 21:17-22).

Today’s Morsel: There have been many speculations as to why Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had no figs but only leaves. Some have speculated that it was not the season for figs yet and therefore there would not have been any figs on the tree. But Jesus saw differently. Apparently this action by our Lord was a teaching lesson for the disciples and those of us who follow Him. Let’s look at this. David said “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalms 1:1-3). Jeremiah said, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Taking what Jeremiah said here as an example, the fig tree that Jesus went to had leaves but had ceased from yielding her fruit. Therefore, it would have been in violation of what it should have continued to do, bear fruit. Jesus said in John 15: 2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” The Lord saw it as a tree in the way and one not fulfilling it duties. Something was wrong with it. Like many saints of God, this tree had stopped yielding fruit, not knowing that the Lord was going to appear to eat from the tree. Let me encourage you today, never stop bearing and yielding fruit. If you say you are born again, that means, as Jeremiah said, your leaves should always be green and you should be bearing fruit. Jesus should always find the Fruit of the Spirit upon you. David said, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (Psalms 92:12-15). We are trees of righteousness, the planted of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Have you done any pruning of the soul lately? Don’t let Jesus catch you barren.

Sing: I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved; just like a tree, planted by the water, I shall not moved.