Performance that Pleases

BIBLE BITES

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PERFORMANCE THAT PLEASES

It wasn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. It cost you a great deal. You were thrilled when you finally made the purchase and drove it home. You woke up the next morning and before you even ate a bite, you looked out the window and smiled to yourself: there it is, sitting in your driveway.  Four days after the exciting purchase, it sputters and stalls. The technician isn't quite sure what the problem is. Adjustments are made but you still notice dead spots when you accelerate. Disappointment dampens your delight.  Frustration over the quirky problems deepen. The smile is gone from your face.

Does God have a heart that has the capacity to be pleased or disappointed? Can your heavenly Father be delighted one day and grieved the next over my performance? Have you ever tried to keep a list (as you read your Bible) of all the things that please and honour your heavenly Father?

By this my Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit

and so prove to be my disciples.

(John 15:8)

Your heavenly Father is glorified and honoured when you are producing fruit - not just a crawling or sprawling vine branch covered with leaves and taking up space but extremely skimpy on fruit. The more fruit the better! What kind of fruit is He looking for in my life and in yours?

Good will, benevolence, a happy heart, peace and calmness, tolerant and patient when the circumstances are annoying and aggravating, gracious and kind usefulness, honesty, truthfulness and reliability, integrity, humility and gentleness, self-control with the strength to curb our sinful impulses and desires.

If you could actually be this kind of person, would you want to be like this? Do you think your family and your friends and your employer and brothers and sisters in Christ would enjoy your company more? If they saw increasing amounts of these qualities and tendencies in your life - would they be impressed?  Sure they would - unless you are hanging out with wrong people.

This is the kind of fruit that you will bear in increasing quantities as you walk each day closely with the Lord, enjoying communion with Him. As you submit your will to His and surrender your life to Him each day, the Spirit of God within you will produce the qualities above - as found in Galatians 5:22-23.  And as this happens, your Heavenly Father is glorified and honoured as He sees you bearing much fruit as a serious disciple of Christ. It's called: 'performance that pleases.'

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com