Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Job 20-21
     New Testament Reading: Mark 11

The next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it(Mark 11:12-14).

Jesus’ condemning of the fig tree and cleansing of the temple were both symbolic acts that illustrated the sad spiritual condition of the nation Israel was outwardly fruitless and inwardly corrupt. The tree with its green leaves gave the outward appearance of fruit, but for someone who hungered was a great disappointment. The temple, in all its architectural glory, was inwardly full of sinful behavior.

But more than providing a history lesson of the nation Israel, Jesus was making personal application. The genuine test of a person’s relationship with God is not in the outward appearance of his or her life, but what is on the inside. What are the motives behind the appearance? What is on the inside that produces the fruit? Does your life display any fruit or is it all leaves?

I go to church, nothing but leaves.
I carry my Bible, nothing but leaves.
I wear Christian T-shirts, nothing but leaves.
When I get in a jam, I pray, nothing but leaves.
I have Christian bumper stickers on my car, nothing but leaves.
Nothing is wrong with leaves; they are attractive and essential. But those things are not substitutes for the real thing.

The Apostle Paul said the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23a). Does your life exhibit these nine qualities? Note that fruit is singular, not plural. The Holy Spirit produces one kind of fruit, Christlikeness. All the virtues listed describe the life of the child of God.

Jesus said, the one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. … My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples (John 15:5, 8).