Fruit Out Of Season

Fruit Out Of Season
By Barb Fisher

“The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs.  Then He said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat of your fruit again…’ ” (Mark 11:12-14 BSB)

You may have asked the same question I did: “Why, Jesus, did you curse a tree because it had no fruit when it wasn’t the season for fruit?” When David was approached by his father to take provisions to his brothers, who were on the front line of a battle with the rest of Israel’s army, he obediently did so. He had a mission. That mission was to take supplies to his brothers, and to bring word back to his father that his brothers were OK. It was a season of war for Israel, but not for David. He was not a warrior but a shepherd. And a very attentive shepherd. He guarded his sheep by remaining fully alert to any enemy who would try to enter the sheepfold and steal one of his sheep. He lived expecting the enemy to come, and prepared to fight when it did. During the season of shepherding, David did so faithfully and fearlessly. He learned to be alert and prepared for whatever he would face. On the day he walked into the Israelite’s camp, he did not expect the “out-of-season” opportunity, but he had learned the importance of being alert and prepared.  Because of that, he was able to meet the challenge. (1 Samuel 17)

David could have walked away and left the warring to the warriors, but he didn’t. He heard the armies of the Living God being defied and He could not walk away. He had no weapons, no armor, and no training. But what he did have was an inward conviction that the God of Israel would not be defied by anyone, much less an uncircumcised Philistine.

Unexpectantly and out-of-season, David faced the enemy! He relied not on the strength for battle that he developed while shepherding the sheep to face down Goliath, but he relied on the God who enabled him. He didn’t try to be a mighty warrior, for he was not. He didn’t try to impress the Israelite army, for there was nothing impressive about him. He didn’t run and hide when he saw the stature of his opponent, because even though he was small in comparison, he knew that the God of Israel armies was bigger and more powerful! He took his shepherding tools and his faith and defeated an enemy that the whole of Israel’s army feared and trembled before. He bore fruit out of season because he learned to be alert and prepared.

Paul encourages Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 to preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season.
Galatians 6:10 tells us that whenever we have an opportunity to do good, we should do good. We don’t wait for the “right” season, but for the opportunity. We wait on the Lord. Yes, be attentive to the season that God has brought us into, but don’t ignore the opportunities along the way. Currently, the Body of Christ is in a season of war. However, don’t be so focused on the next proclamation or declaration, the next casting down of a stronghold, that we miss the opportunity to give a drink of water to one who is thirsty!

Yes, God expects us to bear fruit. When we bear fruit, we glorify Him. (John 15:8) Within every day are moments to bear fruit so that God can be glorified. Be prepared and alert to do so in season and out of season.