Today's Daily Encounter Friday, October 27, 2023 Just Taking Up Space "Then Jesus told this story: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's just taking up space in the garden.'"1 When we come to know Christ, we become a vessel that he uses to demonstrate himself to others. Just like a fruit tree, we are expected to give good fruit which is produced by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can find a list of these fruits in Galatians 5:22-23, which says they are "…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Having this fruit on our branches (in our lives), is a sign of spiritual health and proof that the Holy Spirit is actively at work in us. Sadly, however, many Christians who say...