On this Tuesday, we reflect on Jesus teaching the disciples about faithfulness through the observation of the fig tree that he cursed, His teaching in the Temple, Him calling out religious authorities, and His call for everyone to be prepared for His return.

As a 13-year-old reading Scripture for the first time, I remember struggling with why Jesus would curse that fig tree and trying to understand what was the point? Was He just hangry and acting out of anger, or was there another point to the story?

As I have grown in my knowledge and understanding of Scripture, I now know that there is a great deal of symbolism in the story, more than a 13-year-old could comprehend. The most obvious point Jesus draws from this moment is that when we truly exercise our faith in God, we have the power through prayer to ask anything and see the results of His work. If we approach prayer with humility, a clean heart, and align with God’s will, He is faithful to answer our prayers!

God does not want us to wear our faith like a T-shirt that we put on for church or Bible studies. A T-shirt can be put on and taken off. Instead, He wants us to be faithful to Him—to live out our faith daily and to bear the fruit of it. As we do this, we build the trust in Him that will help us get through the times that Satan tries to make us feel like our faith is lacking, that we are ineffective, or that God has turned His back on us.

On this Tuesday, knowing He would die on Friday, Jesus remained faithful to teach some hard lessons and to call out sin that He saw in God’s people. He saw a fig tree loaded with leaves, and from a distance, it looked like it was going to provide a snack. When He got close enough to truly examine it, He found it not bearing fruit. I think Jesus was frustrated with seeing God’s people practicing a religion and having little faith.

My encouragement to you today is to seek to understand Scripture fresh and anew every day. In doing that, pray that God would reveal Himself in new ways, and that your prayers be focused on what He wants of you in that moment. As you see evidence that your prayers are powerful—that He indeed will move mountains on your behalf, you will find yourself more and more faithful to His Word and His purpose for your life today. Examine yourself for evidence of the fruit of your faith and live your faith every moment of every day to the degree that everyone will see God at work in you.