Bring Glory and Praise to God
"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God." Philippians 1:11
Do you ever wonder about your purpose in life? Why you were born? Why you are in the circumstances you are experiencing? Paul has put our lifetime of questions and our life time of experience in this neat summary. It is, first, his prayer for the believers in Philippi, but it echoes the heart of God for all of us.
That we would be filled with the fruit of our salvation--transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Studying the Word of God, and our willingness to obey, produces the change that glorifies him.
"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
It's God's desire that our minds are changed--delivered from thinking like the world to thinking as Jesus thought. He said
"I do always those things that please him (the father)." John 8:29
Is it our goal to daily please the Father? Is it our goal to bring praise and glory to his Name? Then let us allow the Word to dwell richly in us. God's word transforms...renews...sanctifies and cleanses our minds and--Praise God--changes our hearts.
This morning the Thursday Women's Bible study begins a three month in-depth journey through the book of Philippians, a book often called the epistle of joy. Paul, though in prison, rejoiced in the faith of the Philippian believers. They had joy in spite of their circumstances.
Joy in the midst of need. Joy in the midst of persecution. Joy in every situation. Because of Jesus.
May the transforming power of the blood and words of Jesus be so evident in each one of us that we joyfully bring glory and praise to his Name.
by Marilyn Allison