SFNAZ Devotional – December 1, 2022

“Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Matt 21:18-19

What if the fig tree was meant to represent our appearance? Sometimes, what matters most to us may be how we appear to others. Sometimes, we may even attempt to hide our true selves behind our appearances. Neither is healthy and can hinder our relationship with Christ, and therefore with the Father. If hiding behind our appearances becomes a way of life that is acceptable to us, we may very well begin to live in danger of eternal separation from God and Christ, because in truth it is rejecting the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

This seems to me to be exactly what the scribes and Pharisee’s did. “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’” Matt 23:1-7

Now, I am not saying that appearances do not matter, because they certainly do. What I am saying is that the motive behind our appearances is what matters in His kingdom. We are to put ‘our best foot forward’ because of our love for God and for others, so that we may have opportunity to demonstrate and possibly share the truth of Christ’s love, mercy, and grace with all that we encounter in and on our journey of life. Maybe Paul’s word’s written to the Thessalonian’s applies when he wrote, “… we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” Our appearances, our actions, our words are to be centered on pleasing God, not anyone else, not even ourselves. And God knows, “… for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” 1 Chron 28:9

As the end of my time with you draws near and a exciting new year with your new pastor looms on the horizon I want to offer up this last challenge and encourage you to keep your eye on the prize, which is Christ. Check the motive of your heart every day. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbors as you want to be loved. Then boldly go, and make disciples in the communities, your own circles of influence in which you live.

I love you church. I have been richly blessed to serve you these past 16 months. May His hope, peace joy, and love this Advent season and all of 2023 reign supreme in all your appearances.

Pastor John