Leaves Or Fruits?

[Minister Connie]

Mark 11: 13-14} And seeing in the distance a fig tree (covered) with leaves, He went to see if He could find any fruit on it ( for in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves). but when He came up to it, he found nothing but leaves for the fig season had not yet come. and He said to it, No one ever again shall eat fruit from you. and His disciples were listening to what He said. (Amplified version)

I love the amplified Bible, it just breaks everything down and really helps me to understand the word. Of course I always ask for the Holy Spirit's revelation also. That's so important to do. It says that the fruit of the fig trees should appear at the same time as the leaves. Jesus cursed it because it was phony, it bore no fruit. What does Jesus see when He looks at us? Does He just see leaves, or does He see fruit?

If our lives revolve around the church, around religion and around doing things (works) but have no fruit producing in our lives then we are not living the faith walk. How we love to put those Christians bumper stickers on our cars, we wear Jesus pins, always carrying our Bibles around wherever we go. We love to listen to Biblical things on television and love to listen to Christians stuff on our cds and dvds. But if we do not walk that walk of love and help anyone, or touch someone's life in some way, we are like that fig tree with all the beautiful leaves showing but lack the fruit.

How often have we had someone call us and asked for a favor and we always come up with some excuse? How often have we had to invite someone to come and eat with us to get them to visit us? How often have we seen someone in need and turned the other way? How often have we done something so simple as to pick up the phone and give a love call and see how someone is doing? Many of us, unfortunately, have become very self-centered and selfish.
We can have a spiritual outward look to us yet have no fruit and we become hard hearted, hard to get along with, and most of all never allow ourselves to become inconvenienced in any way. Our greatest excuse is that we are too busy. I wonder if that is what we would do if Jesus asked something of us? Most times we do if we are honest. Anytime we ignore a person, we are ignoring Jesus. Whatever we do to one of God's children we are doing to Him. Food for thought!

God and those in the world are looking for genuine Christians. Not religious minded, not legalistic, not judgmental, not critical but those who are truly walking in love. He is looking for those who have humbled themselves enough to be the servant of all. God desires our love to be so real that we have overlooked our needs to help another. Also remember that the most neglected ones in the Body of Christ who are very high on God's priority list are the orphans and widows. Yes, sadly, many of us have leaves but no fruits. Are you one of those? It's never to late to change.

Many people who are searching for God are watching us closely. Even they can distinct between leaves and fruits. They long to see true children of God whom they can experience Jesus through. Not pretenders and not hypocrites. We need to step up to the plate and be the Ambassadors, the examples that Christ wants us to be. Will you be the ones to keep showing your leaves? Or will you be the one to allow the fruits to be shown. My favorite prayer is: Lord, help people to experience Jesus through Me. Help me to disappear so you can be more real to them. Amen! Search our hearts oh Lord! God bless you. I love you but Jesus loves you so much more than I ever could.