GPS-Figs with Labneh Cheese

AUG 25 / Sunday – Read Genesis 3:7 / Luke 13:6-9 / Habakkuk 3:17-19

Overview: The fig tree is referred to often in the bible, usually as a sign of blessing and goodness. But fig trees that don’t produce fruit get the ax. And Jesus applies this illustration to our present lives. The good news is it’s not over until it’s over!

26 / Mon – Whatever it takes  |  Read Luke 19:1-10

God used a fig tree to help a man connect with Jesus. Zaccheus was very wealthy and at the top of his profession, a chief tax collector. But he was physically short. Neither his career nor economic status helped when he wanted to see Jesus. Yet he was willing to set aside his dignity to scramble up the tree just for a glimpse. It changed his life. Have any ‘fig-tree-climbing’ moments in your life helped you to meet Jesus in a significant way? What about now? Will you do whatever it takes?

27 / Tue – Flimsy clothes  |  Read Genesis 3:1-7

Fig trees were present in the Garden of Eden and not restricted so Adam and Eve probably enjoyed their fruit. But it was the fig tree’s leaves they used, trying to cover their shame, after they had sinned. Any fig-leaf clothes in your past? Times when you ran away from God and tried to act like everything was normal? Aren’t you glad that God loved you enough to pursue and confront you? If it happens again in the future, remember that you can exchange those flimsy clothes for Jesus’ robe of righteousness. All it takes is honest confession, repentance, and a desire to change.

28 / Wed – Choices  |  Read Jeremiah 24:1-10

Jeremiah uses the analogy of good and bad figs when describing those who trusted God and those who would not repent. Judgment was coming on the nation of Judah. God assured the first exiles of His good plans for them, even in captivity. Those who stubbornly rebelled, refusing to repent, were also taken captive but came to an evil end. Can you think of a time when humbly accepting the consequences of your actions actually worked out for your good? God loves doing that!

29 / Thu – Be on guard  |  Read Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus warned we would encounter people who seemed to love him but are actually fakes, being used by Satan to deceive us. Have you met anyone like that and been fooled? Some even preach and teach the Bible but they have unholy goals. Jesus gave a simple way to recognize counterfeits. Those who claim to be Christians but do not exhibit the fruit of the Spirit cannot be trusted. Guard yourself, learn the scriptures, and be cautious. And if you listen, the Holy Spirit will warn you. What will you do to become less easily duped by these ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’?

30 / Fri – Accurate measures   |  Read Habbakuk 3:17-19

How do you gauge when God is blessing you? In ancient times, God’s blessings were measured by the number of fig trees, olive trees, grapevines, grain fields, and livestock you owned. The more you had, the greater your righteousness. What perspective does Habbakuk demonstrate here? Are you willing to resolve, as he did in v 18, to prize your greatest blessing: being known, loved, saved, and cared for by the Almighty One, no matter what happens to everything else in your life?

31 / Sat – Some things take time  |  Read Luke 13:6-9

Are you ever tempted to judge a fellow Christian? If so, consider this parable. A fig tree had not produced any fruit after 3 years. The owner wanted to cut it down but the servant knew what his master may not have known. Some fig tree varieties bear fruit in the first year but others can take 3-5 years to produce a harvest. In any case, the servant asked for more time to give it additional attention before digging it up. It’s called mercy when applied to real people. Only God knows what someone will become in the future. Don’t give up on them too soon.