FAITH CONNECTION – FARMERSVILLE UMC
Ministry Updates for Thursday, August 13th, 2020
Scripture – Matthew 21:19 – Jesus and the Fig Tree
And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
Reflection – Taking Stock
There are times when we get in a rut in our relationships. Something is bothering us or bothering someone we care about. At first, a discussion about an area of conflict that does not get resolved is not really a problem. But if the discussion turns into an argument, and then reoccurs with the same results, we will find ourselves in this rut, a re-run nobody really liked the first time.
I cannot imagine Jesus really wanting to kill anything but sinful or unproductive behavior. And I think that is what this tree represents. We plant seeds, we water a tree, and for some reason, the tree never bears fruit. It is time to let that tree die and try a new way of gardening.
Many of our disagreements and arguments can get like this. We invest a lot of time and energy, but no forward motion happens. People are not ‘fed’ by the decisions but starved by the lack of agreement and understanding. How do we move past it?
If you feel stuck in an old disagreement, it is the time for a new strategy. We need to go deeper into the place of feelings; of hopes, of fears, of lost dreams, and of new possibilities. Discussing these things with those we love will be far more likely to grow trees which bear fruit.
Are you stuck in an argument or situation with someone you care about? Please know that you can make a new start. Jesus gives us the power to wither that old fruitless tree, and plant something new. Pray for guidance, be filled with hope, and face the situation with a renewed sense of self and of God.
Prayer:
Great God in heaven, we are so thankful for those who love us and the great good that comes from those relationships. But with all relationships come some conflicts. In my conflicts, help me find new ways of relating; to not seek better ways to argue my position, but instead laboring to better understand the feelings of those I love. Help me be patient with others, with myself, and know you are always striving to lead us to greater love. Amen.