In Season and Out

He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs (Mark 11:12-13).

The Gospel of Mark tells the story of Jesus being hungry when He saw a fig tree in full foliage. He looked for the breba fig that develops on a common fig tree in the spring on the preceding year's bud growth. It is edible but is inferior to the main crop of figs that surely follow it. When Jesus found nothing but leaves, He knew this tree would bear no figs in season and thereby cursed it. What use is a fruit tree that bears no fruit?

Today, people who are hungry for Jesus Christ will look to people who bear His name. And rightly so as followers of Christ should have an answer for anyone who comes asking. Their lives should bear testimony that they know Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit will be apparent for others both to see and to enjoy.

The fruit of righteousness is evident in you. It shows up in your atmosphere and into every situation you find yourself. If you profess to know Christ, then your life will clearly show it as apples define an apple tree. Pretense goes when you know Jesus. You are the same person when no one is looking. You are what you claim to be “a little Christ” in season and out. Your life proclaims Christ through what you say and what you do not say. Whether people receive you or reject your loyalty to Christ is what matters. You are what you are because Christ is who He is within you.