Our blueberry bushes are strategically placed in our flower beds. They are not close to each other, but are mixed next to other varieties of shrubs. My favorite blueberry bush has always been the largest one. It towers four times higher than the others. This bush typically grows plenty of berries for several weeks. Its lush, green foliage makes it the prettiest of them all. Something changed this year: it only produced berries for one week. Although it's the most attractive, I was sorely disappointed in its lack of fruit.
The blueberry bush next to our bedroom porch produced large bowls of berries for several weeks, but this bush is one of the scrawniest bushes I've even seen! It's not loaded with leaves, but it's filled with sweetness.
In comparing the two bushes and trying to figure out what changed this season, I quickly noticed the differences. While one bush is the largest, it is surrounded by towering crepe myrtles and bay magnolia trees. It's protected from the thunderstorms, the winds, and the scorching hot sunshine. Indeed, it's beautiful on the outside, but lacks what it was designed to produce--fruit.
Meantime, the bush exposed to the rays of sunshine and severe winds, brought on by storms and hungry birds, has continued to make fruit for weeks.
I've read Mark 11:12-14 multiple times over the years, but seeing this scripture play out before my eyes in the backyard was something I couldn't ignore.
Jesus entered Jerusalem amid exultation from the masses gathered for Passover. In the morning, as he traveled from Bethany, he saw a fig tree “in leaf.” This particular tree draws Jesus’ attention because it has a full covering of leaves. Its foliage signals that it should have figs.
"On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” (Mark 11:12-14)
With that expectation, Jesus inspected the tree. He was immediately disappointed. All leaves, no fruit. All expectation, no satisfaction.
In a shocking turn, Jesus cursed the tree and made it wither from the roots, never to yield fruit again.
I've spoken to several hurting people over the last year, and their stories are the same: there's nothing worse than being hungry for prayers from fellow Christians and not receiving them, or wanting a Christian sister or brother to help "bear your burden", but your load is overbearing instead. It hurts deeply when the card-carrying church friends avoid you based on what they've heard, instead of coming to your side and saying, "I'm with you regardless of what happened."
Our personal lives can look like they're “in leaf.” Our leaves may look like those of a supermom, a winner, a perfect family, an A-team Christian with an overstuffed schedule of ministry activities, but the roots may be withered. There may be no fruit of service and no intimacy with God. What’s worse—our leaves may even fool us.
I found it interesting the blueberry bush that's weathered the harshest conditions produced the most berries, while the covered, green bush made the least.
If your YES becomes a NO when tested, it was always a NO. Every YES will be tested for authenticity; it's the testing of your faith that will produce fruit that lasts.
Show up even when it hurts your reputation in the Christian world. Show up for someone just as much when they are at rock bottom as you would when they're on top of the world. It's the people who show up and walk through the fire with you who actually make a difference. It's the showing up that matters. This is how you know if you're producing fruit or being fooled by your own leaves.
I found it interesting the blueberry bush that's weathered the harshest conditions produced the most berries, while the covered, green bush made the least.
If your YES becomes a NO when tested, it was always a NO. Every YES will be tested for authenticity; it's the testing of your faith that will produce fruit that lasts.
Show up even when it hurts your reputation in the Christian world. Show up for someone just as much when they are at rock bottom as you would when they're on top of the world. It's the people who show up and walk through the fire with you who actually make a difference. It's the showing up that matters. This is how you know if you're producing fruit or being fooled by your own leaves.
Barbie will be the guest speaker this Sunday at Agricola Baptist Church in Lucedale, MS.
