Mark 11:12-21

Mark 11:12-21We see one of the many proofs that our Lord Jesus Christ was really man. We learn the great danger of unfruitfulness and formality in religion. We learn how reverently we ought to use places which are set apart for public worship. "He has allowed Himself the severe sufferings that the body of man is liable to. He has tasted pain, and weakness, and weariness, and hunger, and thirst. When we tell Him of these things in our prayers, He knows what we mean, and is no stranger to our troubles. Surely this is just the Savior and Friend that poor aching, groaning, human nature requires!""Like the fig leaves of which Adam and Eve made themselves garments, they will not hide the nakedness of our souls from the eye of an all-seeing God, or give us boldness when we stand before Him at the last day. No! we must bear fruit, or be lost forever.""Let us beware of giving God a mere formal service, while our hearts are full of the world. Let us leave our business and money at home, and not carry them with us to church. Let us beware of allowing any buying and selling in our hearts, in the midst of our religious assemblies."Questions:1. Do we believe that Jesus really does understand our weaknesses and sorrows when we bring them to Him? Does knowing this encourage us to pour our hearts out to Him?2. Are we content to look like Christians before a watching world, or to be Christians before the God who knows our hearts? Are we content with the leaves or, by the grace of God, are we bearing fruit for God’s glory?3. Do we know something of the good fight of faith as we seek to worship God on Sunday’s in the midst of distractions and intruding thoughts or do we often easily find ourselves thinking on other things than what is being said and sung?