The Bible says: "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." (vv 18-19). Perhaps you're thinking that's pretty harsh treatment. After all, it wasn't the tree's fault that it didn't have any figs. So why did Jesus curse it? You'll find the answer in these words: "Seeing that in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves." When Jesus saw leaves on the tree, He'd a right to expect fruit. And when there was none, He cursed it for being a phony while giving off the impression that it was the real thing. There's an important lesson here for each of us. Be careful that you don't display an impressive array of leaves without actually bearing fruit. It takes more than a bumper sticker on your car, a Jesus pin in your lapel, and a big Bible under your arm to influence and win others to Christ. The Bible says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23). That's the kind of fruit people can see, touch, taste, and enjoy. And it's the kind God wants to see manifested in your life today.
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