May 4 devotional

  MAY  4

Glorifying My Father



   My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
   John 15:8, NASB



One of the great confessions of God’s church began with this simple declaration: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever” (the first statement of The Westminster Confession).
I confess today that I want to glorify God. I want to enjoy Him forever. And how does Jesus tell us we can do just that? It is by bearing much fruit. The Message translation of the Bible describes the fruit of the Spirit this way: “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people” (Galatians 5:22).
I want to live that way. I know I don’t have the strength in my own power to do it, but fruit is something He brings into our lives. No longer is a fruitful life a matter of trying harder but a matter of trusting more. Abiding in Christ is trusting Him with everything we have and are. It is walking in His ways because we believe with all our hearts His ways are best.
Are you tired of trying harder and failing? Are you ready to trust Him more, to abide in Him, to put every fiber of your being into His care? The results will blow your mind. You will bear much fruit and prove for all the world to see that you are His disciple. Stunning!



   I give you all glory, God my Father—in my worship and in the fruit of my life. I love and trust you with all my heart.




Zschech, D. (2013). Revealing jesus: a 365-day devotional. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers.