In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ” (Mark 11:20-25 NIV)
What do you focus on in this story? Jesus? The mountain? Faith? The fig tree? The story is both an illustration and an exhortation. Israel and their leadership are like the fig tree—they didn't bear the fruit of their Maker. The exhortation is for those who follow Jesus.
Do we think some things are impossible for God? Are we willing to trust God with childlike faith? Are we bearing the fruit of the One who lives within us? Isn't it interesting that Jesus' final exhortation is about forgiveness—our need to forgive, as our Father (God) forgives. Faith in God is relational—in both a vertical and horizontal sense! ©Word-Strong_2014