You Can't Expect Pears from an Elm Tree
The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes. — Proverbs 12:12
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. — John 15:8
Author
Faustino de Jesús Zamora Vargas
Summary: We glorify God when we bear fruit and give it back to the Lord through concrete actions, an honorable testimony, and an influence that reaches and restores lives. Although we are not perfect and do not need leadership skills, eloquence, or vast knowledge, in Christ we can bear fruit if we ready our hearts and trust that God will supply what we lack. His glory must be at the center of our walk and become our way of life, extending beyond congregational praise. Therefore, we must ask that everything we do exalt Him, persevere in faith, and minister with the power He gives, without seeking recognition for ourselves, so that the world may receive the gospel of salvation.
A beautiful way to glorify God is by “bearing fruit” for the expansion of His Kingdom. Whoever bears no fruit cannot give fruit, because one cannot give what one does not have. You cannot ask an elm tree for pears, as an old saying of popular wisdom goes. Bearing fruit means walking in the fullness of God. It means walking confidently in the glory of God in your life and trusting that, even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the King of Shepherds will supply what you lack spiritually, replenish your storehouses, and give you comfort in tribulation. We are not perfect, but even so, we can bear fruit and give fruit to the Lord. What a beautiful glory it is when, by bearing fruit through our testimony and diligence, we see people regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and families and marriages restored after being influenced by our humble and honorable condition as redeemed Christians!
We are not perfect, but in Christ we must and can bear fruit and give it back to the Lord through concrete actions for His glory. We do not need to be ministry leaders, preach eloquently, or have a vast knowledge of the Word; we may even be shy, insecure, and, to a certain extent, inconsistent in our character. Even so, if we ready our hearts to bear and give fruit for the honor of God, if through our Christian character we influence others and make an impact on lost sinners, then we will see the glory of God in a life anointed with abundant blessings, and we glorify Him, who is the incomparable King of glory. Glorifying God must be our way of life.
The glory of God must be at the center of our vision in our walk with Christ. If you want to offer a prayer that pleases God, frequently say to Him: Lord, let everything I do glorify You and exalt You as Lord and God of all created things. Glorifying God goes beyond our moments of praise and worship in the congregation; rather, it must be the Christian way of life. The Word of God speaks to us far more often about moments, circumstances, and actions in which God’s glory was manifested to His people because of their obedience, their devotion in prayer, and their doing what pleases Him and what He establishes in His statutes.
Beloved brothers and sisters, glory means splendor, distinction, beauty. Jesus is our glory, and acknowledging Him in everything we do is a wonderful way to give Him glory. Fight with all your strength in this race of faith so that God may produce fruit in your heart that you can offer Him on the altar of His glory, and so that the unredeemed world may be reached with the gospel of salvation. If you live a life of devotion to God, do not dilute the hope Christ has placed in you with the sad devotions of the people of this world, who go about seeking their own glory, their own recognition, and their depraved benefits. Plead with the Lord to make you fruitful, and bear fruit. Be a minister, disciple, preacher, and healer of souls for the glory of God. The apostle Peter clearly exhorts us: “If anyone speaks, let him speak according to the words of God; if anyone ministers, let him minister according to the power God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever.” (1 Pet. 4:11)
We, His children, must long to see His glory and, at the same time, glorify Him. As the psalmist exclaimed, so do we today: “I have seen You in the sanctuary and have beheld Your power and Your glory.” (Psalm 63:2)
God bless you!