Under the Fig Tree

Bible Reading: JOHN 1:43-50; HEBREWS 4:16; 1 JOHN 5:14-15

Yum!” Creed said, smacking his lips. “I sure do love your fig jam, Grandma.”

“I can see that.” His grandmother chuckled. “Have some more.”

“Where do you get all these figs from again?” Creed asked as he reached for another homemade biscuit.

Grandma looked out her kitchen window and pointed. “See those trees in the backyard? They were

there when your grandpa and I moved into this house fifty years ago. A fig tree can grow to be fifteen feet high, and its branches can spread as much as twenty-five feet! Which reminds me, did you know the Bible talks about fig trees?”

“Really?” Creed said, his mouth full of fig jam. “I don’t remember that part.”

Grandma reached for her Bible. “In the book of John, when Jesus sees a man named Nathanael coming toward Him, He knows Nathanael is a devoted man of God. When Nathanael, who had never met Jesus, asks how He knows that, Jesus answers, ‘I saw you when you were under the fig tree.’”

Creed stopped chewing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Back in Bible times, it was common for people to search for a quiet place to pray,” Grandma explained. “Fig trees represented a place of peace and safety where they could talk to God. What Jesus was telling Nathanael was that He noticed he was a man of prayer and that it mattered to Him.”

Creed tried to remember the last time he had prayed and spent time with God. It had been a while.

“One thing I’ve learned about prayer is that Jesus is always ready to listen, and He wants us to spend time with Him.” Grandma continued. “Prayer is powerful— don’t ever forget that, Creed. When we bring our feelings and problems to Jesus in prayer, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and teaches us to trust Jesus in every situation. Even if He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want, praying is important because it reminds us of Jesus’ love for us and teaches us to look to Him for all our needs.”

Creed nodded. “May I be excused? I’m going to talk to Jesus for a while. I’ll be under the fig tree out back if you need me.” KELLY HOPE

How About You?

Do you spend time in prayer each day? It’s one of the most important things you can do. Praying reminds you of Jesus’ love for you and teaches you to trust Him to provide everything you need. You might not have a fig tree to sit under, but try to find a quiet place to pray. Jesus is always ready to listen when you come to Him in prayer.

Today’s Key Verse:
COLOSSIANS 4:2 DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER WITH AN ALERT MIND AND A THANKFUL HEART. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Spend time in prayer