Day 208 - F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real)

📖Daily Reading

 Mark 10-11

🎥 Video  

Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.

 

📝 Reflection 

 Mark 11: 12-14 Jesus Curses the Fig Tree   

    The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

 

I love the often used acronym for F.E.A.R. - false evidence appearing real, I think it is so appropriate and is a perfect application of Jesus’s parable in action with the fig tree.  So what is up with cursing a tree? The tree is a metaphor for us as believers and our life of faith. This tree was in early full bloom indicating that it should also have fruit to offer Jesus to be fed and nourished, but when he got up close there was no fruit. In fact it was too early to even have leaves, so it was quite literally false evidence appearing real. This is what many of us as believer do, we put a good ‘front’ and a good show in front of each other, meanwhile behind closed doors we have no evidence of fruit. 

The next story told about in this chapter is Jesus and the disciples arriving back in Jerusalem and the temple. Jesus sees all kind of commerce happening in the temple and he gets angry and drives out the merchants and the money changers even turning over tables. In verse 17 he says “The scriptures declare, ‘My temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations’, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” Go Jesus 👏 He is calling a spade a spade ♠️ and the priests and religious leaders are afraid now, and they begin to plan on how they can get rid of him and kill him. The very leaders of the temple and God’s representatives were capitalizing on their position and using the temple for their personal gain, but still pretending to be pious because they were following ‘Gods laws’ by the letter but against the spirit. False evidence appearing real!

On the way back the next day they pass by the fig tree that Jesus had cursed and it has withered and died. That is what will happen to us if we live by fear and get deceived by our own hearts and we ‘look’ the part, we talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. We are cursing ourselves, what once might look robust and fruit bearing upon closer reflection and over time will show its true nature. In fact the verses says that it withered from the roots up. Yikes, this is very convicting. I have gotten some work to do, first thing get humble and honest. 

Next Jesus says “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain ⛰, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown in the sea,’ and it will happen. Bu you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve receive it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (22-25). But remember we got some good news yesterday - we can supplement our belief with the prayer ‘I do believe but help me overcome my unbelief’. 

This type of belief requires that child like faith that he repeatedly reminds us of. Children also have the capacity to forgive, they don’t tend to hold grudge the way we adults do. Come to think of it, they can be pretty fearless too. They have the courage to believe big. Do you remember being young? You dreamed and believed that you could be anything, do anything. But it is interesting that Jesus tacks on this condition of forgiveness. I think as adults becuase we do hold grudges and keep an account of offenses, we can’t imagine a God that doesn’t see it that way, including the way he looks at us. I think we have to start with ourselves.

We have to get humble and honest and forgive ourselves. The self deceit and defensiveness gets projected on others as a protective mechanism. God through Jesus is trying to get us to see and believe that he is not expecting us to be perfect and to forgive ourselves for being human and accept that he loves us not in spite of our humanity but because of it. He created us so he could step in and help us to be perfect. With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.  (Mark 10: 27). We can’t give others what we don’t have and what we won’t receive first from God. That is supernatural Love - his super on our natural, will bear much fruit and it casts out fear. It is the real deal. Let us all try to humble ourselves, forgive ourselves and our fellow humans for being human and just allow the spirit of Love to do it’s thing. 

God thank you for your living word, for the truth, grace, mercy and power of your perfect Love. I receive it. After who do I think I am, not to? I believe it and help me overcome my unbelief. Help me to spread your love (not my love, that allows fear to creep in) and your penetrating and healing ❤️‍🩹 truth. I forgive myself for being human, I am grateful for being human and imperfect so that I can get to know you more fully. Please help me to be humble and confident in your love so that I will resist pretending that I have it all figured out. Help me to be childlike in my faith. Help me to be a lamp that holds your light. Amen🙏

 

✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt 

 What false evidence are you allowing to appear real?

📖Tomorrows Reading

Mark 12 

Coaching Opportunity

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