Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

As we enter this Holy Week, the Holy Spirit has inspired me to look at it as the road to redemption.

Let’s make our first stop at God’s expectations.

Today’s scripture, Mark 11:12-14 (NIV) says…
[12] The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. [13] Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. [14] Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Consider…
I have read, and heard sermons about, this scripture many times, yet the Holy Spirit showed me something new today. The spiritual significance of this scripture is God has expectations and He responds when they’re not met.

At this redemption rest stop, the first thing we see is that Jesus was hungry and went to the fig tree for it’s fruit. A fig tree has one purpose, which is to produce figs.

This shows us God created us for a purpose. This is confirmed in many scriptures, with one being Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), which explains…
[10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Notice God created us to what He planned.

The fig tree also shows us, it existed to please God. This made me think of Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) which says…
[5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Oh that we would live according to Romans 12:2 (ERV), which says…
[2] Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

Rather than praying please God give me this or that, let’s seek to please Him! That’s what Jesus taught us in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:10 (NLT)…
[10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Notice, before Jesus taught us to ask for what we need, He taught us to pray for what God wants.

The next observation I was given about the fig tree, is that with God fruit bearing isn’t seasonal or optional. Notice, Jesus went to harvest figs outside of the normal fruit bearing season.

The Holy Spirit stressed this by pointing out that God removes unfruitful branches. Jesus said in John 15:1-2 (NIV)…
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Notice, there was no mention of season. That’s because like the fig tree, God expects us to be bearing fruit when He stops by to get some for Himself.

But what fruit does God want us to bear? Fortunately, Jesus tells us just a few verses later in John 15:8-12 (NIV)…
[8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. [9] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. [12] My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

I believe Love is God’s fruit. I say that because 1 John 4:8 (NIV) admonishes…
[8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

And just a few verses later in 1 John 4:11 (NIV)…
[11] Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

I believe when God stops by to see if we’re bearing fruit, He’s checking out our love for others.

As God’s expectation became crystal clear, the Holy Spirit let me read the second significant road sign that underscores God’s expectations and responses. Matthew 21:12-14 (NLT) shared…
[12] Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. [13] He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” [14] The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.

This was one of the rare times we saw the anger of Jesus. But notice Jesus was angry about people stealing the hope in God for personal profit. You see God wants us to be living stones for, not stumbling blocks from Him.

The scriptures that the Holy Spirit gave me to understand this are…

• 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NLT)…[4] You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. [5] And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
• And Romans 14:13 (NIV)…[13] Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

God wants us to inspire others to Him by sharing His love with them.

So today, stay mindful and obedient to Jesus’ expectation expressed in John 13:34-35 (NLT)…
[34] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Love to please God, by loving others, which pleases Him.

The first step on the road to redemption is recognizing His expectation for us.

Today’s song is…
Pleasing

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)