Mark 11:12-25, 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Lamentations 1:1-2, 6-12
We don’t have to look far to see the fading glory of a once great city. Many cities once boasted of extraordinary things, yet fell into ruin. In their glory days, citizens could look toward a promising future while enjoying abundant life. Our landscape is dotted with communities that trusted the empty promises of a world whose mantra is eat, drink and be happy. The king of Assyria made such promises to Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. “Make your peace with me…then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree” (2 Kings 18:31).
Chasing after worldly things brings decay and death. Even as the fig tree bears the promise to provide food, there are limits to its ability to bear fruit. Out of season, the fig tree cannot provide food. There can be no doubt; the world’s promises are shallow at best. Yet in Christ there is hope.
Jesus taught crowds about the fullness of God’s kingdom. Loving God above all else and seeking his kingdom first, leads to the certainty of life filled eternally with peace and joy. God’s promises are sure, so sure that, through baptism into Christ, God makes his people inheritors of his kingdom. And so Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Prayer: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, and his mercy endures forever. Amen.
In the Beginning 