From twigs to Figs

The other day, at choir practice, Pastor Greg brought us a handful of figs from the Orchard House. They were probably some of the most delicious that I had ever tasted. As far as figs go, in my mind, I don’t think there could have been a more perfect fig.

I just went about my business after I ate it and didn’t really think much about the fig, after that.

Yesterday, during the prayer time with the Focus Circle, it really struck me. “It” being the symbolism of the figs that Greg shared with us. We are bearing fruit of the spiritual sense...more than any of us realize. God has blessed us immensely and is continuing to do so. Because we’ve already been fruitful and are going to be even more so, the Holy Spirit is expounding its power and glory and blessings among our house, even more.

The whole thing brings to mind Matthew 21:19,

“18 In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" 21 Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. 22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive." -NRSV

We, Covenant of the Cross Church, are not this fruitless tree. We have born fruit; we will continue to bear fruit and we will be powerful in the Spirit and the Son and the God almighty who we serve and proclaim. I don’t care who comes against us, cursing us to nothing more than twigs.

We aren't a fruitless tree, covered only in leaves. We are a fruitful tree, covered in power.

Where our enemies curse us to twigs, the Blessings of the Spirit will bring forth figs!

This is something that I am fully faithful on. I’ve already taken this knowledge to the bank.

As a church...a spiritual unit and a family, we have already moved mountains. God has moved mountains. We’ll continue to move mountains. This I know. I know.

This bit of scripture also brings to mind that it’s not our job, nor is it our place to curse our enemies...even if they curse us. When you curse others, you curse yourself. When you bless others, you bless yourself.

A tree doesn’t bear fruit so that it can nourish itself. It bears fruit so that it can grow up another tree to make more fruit. In the case of the spirit, we don’t bear the fruit of blessings to keep under cover for ourselves, but to bless other people and lift them up, so they can, themselves, be fruitful.