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Tuesday Bible Study Group - Share Your Own Unique Journey with God

3/24/2020

2 Comments

 

Bible Study Group
- "Share Your Own Unique Story" - 
Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Picture

​Matthew 21:18-22 (NIV)
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 
19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
21 Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 
22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."


Today's scripture talks about Jesus' cursing on a tree. 

After reading this scripture, these are the questions that came up in my mind. 
  1. How come can Jesus curse a tree on not having a fruit?
  2. Is Jesus the one who cares about the fruits and results?
  3. Did Jesus get upset that there is no fruit because He was so hungry?

But, as I studied on the background of this scripture, the fruit Jesus was talking about is not the final fruit or ripe fruit of the tree, but it was something like nubs of fruit as evidence of its imminent crop.
  • In other words, Jesus was talking about what the tree is supposed to have in the Spring season. It was not necessary to be a full fruit or ripen fruit but something in the process that is going to ripen fruit in Fall.
  • Jesus was not talking about the fruit as a result but as a process.
  • In other words, Jesus was talking about faithfulness, not fruitfulness.

As we live in a capitalistic society, we encounter the issue of the results or possession, such as we might concern how rich he or she is or how much he or she possesses. Some people might think that the person who has a good result is better than the person who has a bad result. But, this is a totally secular perspective.

How does God's perspective differ from the secular one?
It is something like this. We measure our height from the ground. But, God's perspective is like measuring our height from the sky. For example, if you measure from the ground, Daniel is taller than me now. But if God measures our heights from the sky. I am taller than Daniel. Does it make sense?

Do you remember the illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven with the story of servants with different amounts of talents in Matthew 25? 

The owner gave five talents, two talents, and one talent to his servants, depending on the servant's abilities. When he came back from his trip. he praised the servants who came with the profits of two talents and five talents with exact same words, 

"Well Done, my good and faithful servant. You've been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!" (Matthew 25:21 & 23)

If the principle of the Kingdom of Heaven was based on Capitalism, the owner should have praised the servant who brought five talents more than the servant who brought two talents. But, this illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven shows God's perspective that focuses on faithfulness rather than fruitfulness.

Jesus was always concerned about faithfulness in many other situations in the Bible. As we have lived in a capitalistic society, we are used to seeing, think, and measure things from a capitalistic perspective. But, we, as the people of God, need to remember that we are the people who see, listen, think, and act based on Kingdom's perspective and virtues. 

I hope and pray that we are able to look at our own perspective, standards, values if they are based on the Kingdom's perspective or secular or capitalistic perspective. 

I wish all of you can share your own unique meditation with the companions in Christ so that all of us can be blessed by all of our unique insight and meditation. 
2 Comments
DAVID MACDONALD
3/25/2020 08:21:16 am

I agree that Jesus was trying to illustrate to his followers that their complete belief in him would be required to have their prayers answered. They were like many of us who need to be reminded constantly that our faith in Him is more important than good works or public displays. The bible is full of examples (especially the old testament) of God's people backsliding as soon as whatever reminder they had received from him was forgotten. I believe that we need church in order to hear the message over and over again that faith can move mountains.

Reply
Barbara MacDonald
3/25/2020 09:00:56 am

Cursing the Fig Tree—Page 28
Question: How can my faith be nourished so I can bear even more fruit for God’s Kingdom?
Mark 11: 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
I believe in God. This is true.
Mark 9: 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome by unbelief!”
Sometimes I have trouble with knowing that Jesus hears me and tells his Father how much I need him. My faith is not as strong as it should be, and I work on that daily. I am more like Thomas, seeing is believing. I sometime question if God hears my prayers.
So I pray every day for my faith to grow and my unbelief to lessen. I know that Jesus has helped me work on this, but I still have a way to go.
Dearest God, thank you for my faith. I know I need to work on it every day and with your help I know I can succeed. Know that I love you and want to grow in my faith, in order to follow you and be with you forever, Amen.

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    Gil Lee

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