How God Is Glorified on Earth – Words of Grace – December 11, 2020

Every person with the Spirit of Christ wants God to be glorified on earth. That’s because Christ wants the same thing.

Jesus said in John 17, “Father, the hour has come, glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…” That one statement sums up the entire life of Jesus. He lived, loved, taught, healed, cast out demons, died on the cross and was raised from the dead to glorify God the Father. He could pray for the Father to glorify him because he knew this would lead to him glorifying the Father.

Jesus still desires God’s glory on earth. That’s why he told his disciples to abide in him. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).”

As we abide in Jesus Christ through the Spirit, his life works a transformation in us and produces the fruit of love and obedience from us. This happens as we live with each other in the church and with others in the world.

Then, as Christ’s life and love flow out of us, God is glorified. This is Christ’s way of bringing glory to God on earth. He does it through the fruit-bearing of his followers. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples (John 15:8).

As we abide in Christ and he abides in us, we want the same thing. Partaking of Christ’s life through abiding in him means taking on his desires, goals, and mission. Abiding in Christ and bearing fruit is the way we carry out his work of glorifying God on earth.

This kind of Spirit-filled life, abiding in Christ, and grace-filled living is deeply spiritual and a miracle of God. But, it is not that complicated.

Abide in Christ. Believe in him. Receive him and all things that come with him. Submit to him. Love and obey him. Love and serve others. Speak of him. Pray toward that end. Keep your heart humble before him as you read and meditate on his word. Make his will your will. Seek the glory of God in all your thoughts, words, and deeds. Remain in these things all your days on this earth.

As a congregation, let’s do this together. Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. God sent his Son as the Vine of a vineyard, which is his church. Yes, the church of Christ is made up of all the redeemed in all places and in all of time. And, practically speaking, every Christian and congregation is the place where Christ’s life works out in fruit-bearing for God’s glory.

How is God glorified on earth? By his people, abiding in his Son, bearing fruit in his world.

This weekend, think on these things. Spend some time reading and praying from John 15.

Pray for the fruit-bearing life and ministry of our congregation

-Scott