What the fig tree teaches us - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell.
Song of Solomon 2:13

What the fig tree teaches us
If you are interested in plants, you have probably marvelled at the enormous fertility of certain species. The fig tree, which thrives in the Mediterranean, bears fruit three times a year. In spring you can pick early figs, followed by the main harvest in summer, and a late harvest in autumn. A mature tree bears between 80 and 100 kg of figs!

This impressive fact contains a spiritual lesson for us:

1. The first figs in spring indicate conversion. When someone turns from their own wilful life to God and believes in the Lord Jesus, the first fruit for God is produced. This includes the confession of sins committed and subsequently living a life that is focused on God.
2. In the summer figs we can see a life of faith surrendered to God. He is pleased with such a life. Paul prayed for the believers in Philippi that they might be filled “with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11).
3. In the course of a lifetime, however, the main fruit may be sparse because we have drifted away from the Lord Jesus. The Lord counts repentance and a realignment with Him and His ways as late fruit. These late figs are as “delicious” to Him as the early figs (cf. Jeremiah 24:2, 7).

Today’s reading: Daniel 9:15-27 · Acts 3:12-18