Glorifying Our Father
How can I be a disciple and bring great glory to God?
By bearing much fruit.
John 15:8 – “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
How do I bear much fruit?
By abiding in Jesus.
John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
It simply means obeying His commandments.
1 John 3:24 – “The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”
But can I really obey His commandments? They often seem too difficult.
Yes. If you are a born-again believer, God has already equipped you for obedience. He has poured His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit, given you His all-sufficient grace, and richly poured out His Holy Spirit upon you. His divine power has granted you everything you need for life and godliness. Therefore, His commandments are not burdensome, and His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Romans 5:5 – “...hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
Titus 3:5–6 – “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
2 Peter 1:3 – “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
Matthew 11:30 – “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
How do I practically obey His commandments?
The greatest obstacle to obedience is your own self-will. Whenever your will conflicts with God's will, choose to deny yourself and submit to Him. This is the very path Jesus walked throughout His earthly life. He did not come to do His own will, but the will of His Father. As we deny ourselves and follow Him daily, God produces much fruit through our lives.
John 12:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
John 6:38 – “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
Luke 9:23 – “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
What should motivate my obedience?
Love and gratitude for the Lord who first loved you, died in your place, bore your sins, and freely gave you everything you need to live for Him. The more we appreciate His forgiveness and His love, the more we desire to obey Him. He has also promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Luke 7:47 – “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown much love. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Hebrews 13:5 – “...for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’”
But I fail often in obeying His commandments. What should I do when I fail?
Do not remain where you have fallen.
Get up immediately. Take full ownership of your sin. Do not blame (1) God, (2) other people, (3) your circumstances, or (4) the devil.
Confess your sin, repent, and return to Jesus without delay.
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Hebrews 4:7 – “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Like the father of the prodigal son, Jesus is always ready to receive you.
Luke 15:20 – “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
My Prayer
May we all live each day in a manner that glorifies our Father by abiding in Christ, obeying His Word, denying ourselves, and bearing much fruit through the power of the Holy Spirit. May our lives continually reflect His love, His grace, and His glory.
Comments
Post a Comment