The Breath of Lentنموونە

The day after Jesus’ clearing of the temple, He and His disciples leave for Bethany. The past few days have been filled with ministry, and Jesus needs a moment of refueling for the journey into the next pivotal days. He and His companions come across a fig tree, but upon closer examination, they discover that this flourishing tree is foliage but no fruit. Jesus declares a verdict on the tree that no fruit will ever grow from its branches again. It seems like such a stark pronouncement.

There is an important personal lesson to be learned from Jesus’ curse on the fig tree. Jesus has endless grace and mercy for those who genuinely pursue a godly life. When a life is lived with all form and no substance, it brings a pronouncement such as that on the fig tree. Jesus’ biggest disappointment with the Pharisees was when He said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Matthew 23:13 It is the motivation of our heart that pleases God more than the outward show.

May today’s breath prayer serve as a reminder of what is most important to God.

Inhale: Make my heart pure,

Exhale: …to bear fruit for you.