This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. – John 15:8 (NIV)
There’s a really pretty garden about 20 minutes from my house. It’s available to tour, and you can walk through it and enjoy all the sculpted plants, flowers, and lots of other beautiful things. When you go to the garden, however, you don’t ever think that those beautiful sculpted plants just grew that way. Rather, you see the sculpted bush that looks like a frog, and you think, what an amazing gardener.
That’s a little like what today’s verse is talking about. When our lives are fruitful, it brings the glory to God. Rather than us getting praise because we made good grades this semester, or because we’re really good at public speaking, if we succeed and are fruitful, it should point back to God.
Everything we do, should be done for the glory of God. Why? Because we were created to bring God glory. When we bring glory to ourselves and don’t give God credit for our success and fruitfulness, it brings a joy to our lives that isn’t lasting.
In everything we do, we should do it for God’s glory. Whether we’re doing a chore we don’t really like, or loving a person that is unlovable, all should be done for the glory of God. And when we do it for Him, it shows our maturity as disciples.
So today, take some time to examine your heart. Are you living your life in such a way that you are conscious of bringing God glory through everything you do? Do you do schoolwork for the glory of God? How about your chores? Are they done for God’s glory? In everything, be aware that you are bringing Him glory. Grow into maturity by giving Him glory in everything you do.