PAINFUL to read. Not something this sinner enjoys doing...but something this sinner needs 

to do more of.

Only half-way through the book, I've already discovered that the true fruit of my life - not the stuff that I can fool my friends with, but the real fruit - the stuff that God sees - is pretty sparce and sour at best. Each time I pick up this book, I end up in prayer afterwards, asking the LORD to forgive me and to bring about fruit in my life that is in better keeping with my repentance. I think one could say that's the mark of a good book.

If you're considering something personal to do this Lenten season that will make Easter more meaningful, you might consider buying this book and reading it through. Though your sin will come glaring through in an uncomfortable way, reading this book will certainly help you realize how much you need to be saved, and what a great Savior you have in Jesus.

You have some professors (professing Christians) that are only saints before men when they are abroad, but are devils and vipers at home; saints by profession, but devils by practice; saints in word, but sinners at heart and life. These men may have the profession, but they want the fruit that becomes repentance.

Barren fig-tree, can it be imagined that those that paint themselves did ever repent of their pride? Or that those that pursue this world did ever repent of their covetousness? Or that those that walk with wanton eyes did ever repent of their fleshly lusts? Where barren fig-tree, is the fruit of these people's repentance?

Nay, do they not rather declare to the world that they have repented of their profession? Their fruits look as if they had. Their pride saith they have repented of their humility. Their covetousness declareth that they are weary of depending upon God; and doth not thy wanton actions declare that thou abhorest chastity? Where is thy fruit, barren fig-tree?

Repentance is not only a sorrow, and a shame for, but a turning from sin to God; it is called 'repentance from dead works' (Hebrews 6:1). Hast thou that 'godly sorrow' that 'worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of' (2 Cor 7:10-11)?

How dost thou show thy carefulness, and clearing of thyself; thy indignation against sin; thy fear of offending; thy vehement desire to walk with God; thy zeal for his name and glory in the world? And what revenge hast thou in thy heart against every thought of disobedience?

- from Barren Fig Tree, pg. 53