We sing the  song, “In my Life Lord, be Glorified,” desiring God to do a work in our lives- A work that will magnify God making much of Him in each and everyday that we live.  I believe these two verses in Psalms could be a prayer every Christian prays.  Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:11-12 ESV     

    What does it require to bear spiritual fruit? It requires pruning by God, so that you might produce more fruit.  If I were a plant and could feel pain, I can not imagine enjoying the pruning process.  Yet the process is necessary in order to bear more fruit.  The process of pruning at times can be painful in the Christian’s life.  God’s desire for you as a Christian is to bear fruit and may require God cutting away your self trust or dependence to grow in faith in Him. Think about this, in difficult times we pray, focus, and seek more guidance than when things are going well.  Could this be a pruning process intended to cause us to abide more in the vine…. Jesus?  I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2 ESV  People, many times, observe a Christian going through difficult times which provides the unique opportunity to show that God really is the one for which they live.  It can be the very testimony that God would use to draw someone to Himself.  The evidence of fruit in your life is the presence of the Spirit.   ” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control……” Galatians 5:22 ESV I believe this is how we glorify God by bearing these fruits of the Spirit.  Let me encourage you to desire the Lord be glorified in your life even if it requires pruning.   Sing boldly and with conviction , “In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.”

    I heard an interesting fact this week.  The Bible uses the word “Christian” only 3 times but the word “disciple” over 260 times.  A disciple is a person who follows Jesus and is a student of his teaching.  The word disciple is predominately found in the four Gospels and Acts.  The Gospels give an account of the times in which Jesus walked upon the earth and Acts of early church history.  This gives us new insight in following Jesus; we are to be His Disciples following, learning, and living with the evidence that we are His by action and not merely by name.  We may be quick to call ourselves Christians, but more importantly we should desire to be called disciples. Give evidence of the fact we are Christians.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 ESV  

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David