Hosea 9:10, 12b
“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.  But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved…Woe to them when I turn away from them!”

Mark 11:12-14a
“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit.  When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’”

Romans 7:4
“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.”

Father God, you remember us as the delight of your heart.

Though you have created us to blossom and produce early good fruit, we have grieved you with barren pursuits.  When you look for us, we do not welcome you, nor are we impatient to produce sweetness to satisfy you.

Forgive us for not filling the mouths of the hungry.  Restore growth and life to our withered faith.

We ask this for the sake of Christ, who was cursed on a tree in our place and who now calls us to bear fruit in his name.

Listen to ‘Thou Lovely Source of True Delight’ featuring M.P. Jones