"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said"--
"Herein is my Father glorified, that _ye bear much fruit_."--John
xv. 8.
The Father Glorified.
When surveying the boundless ocean of covenant mercy--every wave
chiming, "God is Love!"--does the thought ever present itself, "What can
I do for this great Being who hath done so much for me?" Recompence I
cannot! No more can my purest services add one iota to His underived
glory, than the tiny taper can add to the blaze of the sun at noonday,
or a drop of water to the boundless ocean. Yet, wondrous thought! from
this worthless soul of mine there may roll in a revenue of glory which
He who loves the broken and contrite spirit will "not despise." "_Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit._"
Reader! are you a fruit-bearer in your Lord's vineyard? Are you seeking
to make life one grand act of consecration to His glory--one
thank-offering for His unmerited love. You may be unable to exhibit much
fruit in the eye of the world. Your circumstances and position in life
may forbid you to point to any splendid services, or laborious and
imposing efforts in the cause of God. It matters not. It is often those
fruits that are unseen and unknown to man, ripening in seclusion, that
He values most;--the quiet, lowly walk--patience and
submission--gentleness and humility--putting yourself unreservedly in
His hands--willing to be led by Him even in darkness--saying, Not _my_
will, but _Thy_ will:--the unselfish spirit, the meek bearing of an
injury, the unostentatious kindness,--these are some of the "fruits"
which your Heavenly Father loves, and by which He is glorified.
Perchance it may be with you the season of trial, the chamber of
protracted sickness, the time of desolating bereavement, some furnace
seven times heated. Herein, too, you may sweetly glorify your God. Never
is your Heavenly Father _more_ glorified by His children on earth, than
when, in the midst of these furnace-fires, He listens to nothing but the
gentle breathings of confiding faith and love,--"Let Him do what seemeth
good unto Him." Yes, you can there glorify Him in a way which angels
cannot do in a world where no trial is. They can glorify God only with
the _crown_; you can glorify Him with the _cross_ and the prospect of
the _crown_ together! Ah, if He be dealing severely with you--if He, as
the great Husbandman, be pruning His vines, lopping their boughs,
stripping off their luxuriant branches and "beautiful rods!" remember
the end!--"He purgeth it, that it may bring forth _more_ fruit," and
"_Herein_ is my Father glorified!"
Be it yours to lie passive in His hands, saying in unmurmuring
resignation, Father, glorify Thy name! Glorify Thyself, whether by
giving or taking, filling my cup or "emptying me from vessel to vessel!"
Let me know no will but Thine. Angels possess no higher honour and
privilege than glorifying the God before whom they cast their crowns.
How blessed to be able thus to claim brotherhood with the spirits in the
upper sanctuary! nay, more, to be associated with the Saviour Himself in
the theme of His own exalted joy, when he said, "_I_ have _glorified_
Thee on earth!"
"THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT MY JOY MIGHT REMAIN IN YOU,
AND THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL."