Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 6 April 2020 – Green But Fruitless
Topic: Green But Fruitless
Scripture: Matthew 21:18-27
Key Note: “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.” (Psalm 107:14)
Outline: Jesus was hungry and saw a fig tree full of green leaves. He expected to find some fruits in that tree, but alas, no single fruit was found. Jesus cursed that tree and it withered immediately. He said “may you never bear fruit again.”Thispronouncement was warrantedby the fact that the tree had green leaves- an appearance of fruitfulness -but was fruitless. John the Baptist warned the Pharisees and Sadducees to produce fruit that showed repentance. He also warned that the axe was laid at the root of the tree and any tree that did not bear good fruit would be cut down (Matt. 3:8-10).This was the same problem that Jesus had with the Pharisees that made Him pronounce curses on them. He called them white-washed sepulchers that looked beautiful on the outside but were full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean, on the inside (Matt. 23:27-28). Hypocrisy,a serious problem in the church today, always attracts the wrath of God. We need to repent of sinful lifestyles covered with an appearance of spirituality.
Prayer Point: Lord deliver your church from fruitlessness coated with an appearance of godliness.