Devotional:

Hello and welcome to another day of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! I hope you have been encouraged and continue to be courageous in what God has been calling you into in this new year.

Our theme during this month has been, "First This, Then That." We have been looking at what needs to be first in our lives before we see what is next. Today, we are looking at Mark 11 where Jesus curses a fig tree and flips tables in the temple.

In Mark 11:12-14 we read, "The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it."

Jesus saw a healthy-looking tree that appeared to be producing fruit, but it turned out to only be a pretty tree with no fruit.

We then read in Mark 11:15-17, "On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Later on as they were leaving, Peter pointed out to Jesus that the fig tree had withered overnight and Jesus' first sentence in his response was simply, "Have faith in God."

The temple had become like the tree. From the outside it was alive and fruitful, but a closer look shows a false representation of hope. Hope became something to be purchased and not something the people would trust from God. A transaction-based relationship with God had become the priority over a dependency on God alone. Where there was an appearance of life from the outside, the reality within told a story of empty, fruitless faith. They had taken what was meant to be a pathway to God and turned it into a pre-show ticket sale. Our faith is not something that can be bought with our own resources, talents, or gifts. Jesus was saying, "Don't corrupt this sacred place and profit from the illusion of faith. Have faith in God - first! Pray to my Father - first! Rely on God - first!" So, it begs the question, "Where have I not asked God first?"

In the past, my faith was built on impressing others with what I accomplished in my faith. I was asking them to provide my approval but neglected the fact that God’s grace had already granted me a new life and a new identity. Those who I thought were closest to God became my idols and those idols replaced God. I thought if I gained their approval, I would receive God’s approval. These individuals were not at all corrupt or deceitful. They were really great, honest, fruitful people of God. The problem was that I didn’t ask for God’s will first. I only went to Him for what would benefit the perception of my faith. When those relationships faded over time, so did my faith and any fruit. I wasn’t able to see fruit in my life until I stopped creating a false picture of my personal faith for others to see and started going directly to God first to receive His will.

Here's the lesson I have learned: I cannot expect to see Godly fruit in my life if the foundation of my faith is a self-made illusion. If I want to ask God to show me His will for my life, I need to ask Him. I need to listen to His answer. It’s His will after all; not my own or anyone else's.

My hope for us today is to recognize where we haven't asked God first, and that we have faith in Him above any of our own efforts. We need to rely on God to forgive, empower, and release us so we can courageously step into the future He has for us to become trees that produce fruit.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the opportunity to come directly to you with our prayers. We place our trust and find our hope in you, and you alone. Lord, we ask that you reveal to us where we have not relied on you and to show us where you are leading us. Reveal to us where our lives can produce fruit for your Kingdom so that you may be glorified as we are blessed to participate and witness your work within us and around us. Amen.

Thank you for joining us today for 21 Days! Tune in tomorrow and we'll have another devotional for you. Join us every Tuesday night at 6:30pm at each location as we gather together to worship, have a devotional, and pray together during these 21 Day of Prayer and Fasting.