There was a time in my life that I will never forget.  There I was, all those years ago, with text books, notes on lectures, and other resources all around me with only a lamp light.  After teaching all day I was studying for finals for the four classes that I took to earn my Masters degree in education.  It wasn’t the learning part, I love learning—it was the overwhelming dread of the tests. I hastily threw up prayers to God asking for help to do well.

On this particular night of study, God spoke to my heart and got my attention with an answer to that quick prayer for help in a way I will never forget.  My Bible was on my nightstand untouched for a few days prior because of this overwhelming schedule in my life.  As I went over my notes about teaching theories and leadership management, God asked, “What if you studied My Word as much as you studied for your classes?”  Right there in the quiet while everyone else in my family slept, I heard God—and embraced what He said, trembling.  “Lord, you are absolutely right.  Forgive me.”

So, I closed the books, stacked the scattered notes around me and reached for my Bible—God’s Word that is my strength.  I turned to my favorite passage, Psalm 143.  As I read, my heart stopped racing, my mind filled with peace. God cleansed my heart, transformed my thinking, reset my soul to default to His will, while restoring the joy of embracing the God-life as opposed to doing life on my own.  Dread turned into confidence. 

I slept well that night. God knew I needed rest more than anything else to face the next day of teaching followed by final tests of graduate work and then drive back home to my family.  I learned to let God set the pace of my life.  I began from that night forward to begin each day with God and His Word, to write what He was telling me in a journal so I wouldn’t forget.  This passage, using Peterson’s Message, clearly shows us what God wants—our full and undivided attention.  Embrace the God-life! 

“Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.” –Jesus

Mark 11, The Message

The Cursed Fig Tree

^12-14 As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry. Off in the distance he saw a fig tree in full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but found nothing but fig leaves. (It wasn’t yet the season for figs.) He addressed the tree: “No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” And his disciples overheard him.

^15-17 They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn’t let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple. And then he taught them, quoting this text:

My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations;
You’ve turned it into a hangout for thieves.

¹⁸ The high priests and religion scholars heard what was going on and plotted how they might get rid of him. They panicked, for the entire crowd was carried away by his teaching.

¹⁹ At evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city.

^20-21 In the morning, walking along the road, they saw the fig tree, shriveled to a dry stick. Peter, remembering what had happened the previous day, said to him, “Rabbi, look—the fig tree you cursed is shriveled up!”

^22-25 Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or hemming and hawing—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

As we read yesterday, Jesus rode into town on a donkey colt, praised as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Then He was headed for the Temple—a place designated and built for all nations to come to pray to God—the One and Only God.  Jesus observed the carnival atmosphere during the Holy Week of celebrating Passover.  Oh how Jesus must have been repulsed by the behavior of those who turned God’s House into a business—a business of thievery!  The “den of thieves” behavior Jesus referenced was proclaimed by the prophets’ words centuries earlier.  But to now be there and see it up close must have grieved our Lord greatly over watching these sins of disobedience, dishonor, and disrespect of God right there in God’s Temple! 

So, the next day, Jesus who had the authority to do so, “turned the tables” and disrupted “business as usual” with a declaration of who God is with a cleansing of God’s place of worship and prayer to Him.

“Jesus’ condemning of the tree and clearing of the temple were both symbolic acts that illustrated the sad spiritual condition of the nation of Israel. In spite of its many privileges and opportunities, Israel was outwardly fruitless (the tree) and inwardly corrupt (the temple). It was unusual for Jesus to act in judgment, yet there comes a time when this is the only thing God can do (John 12:35–41)”.  –Warren Wiersbe, Bible Commentator

But that’s not all, I pray we do not miss the lesson of what it is like to EMBRACE the God-life of prayer which is the only way, in Jesus Name, to God’s heart.  Ask for anything in faith believing then listen for His response. Jesus teaches us to pray, “May Your will be done”, not our will and wishes, but for God’s best work in us and through us.  Embracing the God-life is trusting with obedience that God knows what He is doing.

Forgiveness opens the door to God’s Kingdom.  “Forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6) Jesus teaches us that embracing the God-life is a life of consistent forgiveness.  Jesus closes this passage with, “And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”—Jesus

Jesus says, “Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13, NLT

Daily, Embrace the God-life!  Because God has embraced us!

Lord,

I pray this day for everything you know I need to walk in your ways while developing your character traits by your work of salvation within me.  Give me wisdom and the power to know the difference between Your voice and the voice of the world.  “Greater are You in me than he that is in the world.” I lean on your promises. I trust you for everything because you are my everything! Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation.

In Jesus Name, For Your glory, Amen