Proclaim His Power

Mark Batterson post:  Talking to Trees

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. Mark 11:14

One of the most fascinating miracles in the gospels is Jesus cursing the barren fig tree.  Most of the other miracles bring life. This one brings death.  Most of them pronounce blessing.  This one is a curse in a sense.  All of us have barren fig trees that undermine our spiritual productivity.  We need to curse them!  You need to kill what is killing you.  If you really want to come to life, then barren fig trees need to die!  But let me focus on one unique element in this story.

Jesus isn’t talking to the disciples. Jesus speaks to the tree!  We tend to overlook this little detail, but I think it’s significant. And Jesus just talk to trees. Jesus also commanded us tospeak to the mountains in our lives. “If you say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you.”

Is it possible that Jesus was speaking figuratively?  Perhaps.  But I think there is some literalism to it.  There comes a time when you need to quit talking to God about the mountain in your life and start start talking to the mountain about your God. You need to proclaim His power.  You need to declare His sovereignty.  You need to recall His faithfulness.  Then you need to speak to the tree, speak to the mountain.

Maybe it’s time that you quit talking to God about your problem and start talking to your problem about God.