The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” Mark 11:20-21
Yesterday we saw how Jesus took the opportunity to use the example of an unfruitful fig tree to teach His disciples about the fruitlessness of self-righteousness and how just “doing” things for God isn’t the same as having a personal relationship with Him. And that without Him, we truly can do nothing including serving Him.
Today we’re going to look at another lesson Jesus taught in this same passage. The power of our words. Again, when Jesus spoke to the fig tree and cursed it, it wasn’t something the disciples never heard before. The Jews believed that blessing and cursing something or someone came through speaking it. They knew there was power and in their words. This is why Peter pointed out that the curse Jesus spoke took hold and the tree died from its roots.
How many times have we cursed ourselves or others by things we say without thinking. We had a family friend who literally talked her daughter into feeling sick by keeping asking her if she felt warm, or did she like she was getting a cold. Words are powerful, because they become like seeds planted in our minds and when we hear either negative or positive things long enough we begin to see them grow and produce either good or bad fruit in our lives.
That’s why Scripture tells us to meditate on the Word for they are life and health to our bodies (Prov. 4:22) and to guard our hearts because out of it flows the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). We need to keep reminding ourselves His Word tells us who we are in Christ Jesus, and that if God is for us, who or what can be against us. The Word is a virtual gold mine of words of wisdom that will benefit us in every area of our lives. And when we speak them over ourselves and others, chains are broken, addictions are broken, healing flows and blessings are released. What will you speak to yourself and others today?
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