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.” And his disciples heard it.
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As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
This may be one of the oddest passages in the gospels. For the life of me I have no idea why Jesus cursed that fig tree. Honestly, if not for these verses I would not have imagined that the Lord would do such a thing. Even his explanation to the disciples doesn't make sense. It speaks to me of how God's ways are sometimes indiscernible to my mind.
That said, I have to say that I love the way that Jesus answered his disciples. In a few sentences he paints a broad and magnificent image of what it means to have faith in God as we pray. It is obvious from the text that he is now speaking of spiritual trees and mountains. For truly, no obstacle can obstruct us, or hinder our way, when we pray in his name.
Help me today Lord that I might not doubt in my heart when I pray.
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