"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

Paul is expressing here a truth that Jesus tried to get across to his disciples years before. Remember the story of the man blind from birth. The disciples wanted to know why he was born blind, who had sinned, him or his parents? They wanted to analyze the situation, debate it and come up with an answer to this deep theological question. But Jesus had another course in mind, first he healed the blind man and then he proceeded to tell his friends that this man was born blind so that Jesus might be able to show forth the glory of God on that day. We like the disciples tried to analyze our experiences too much, we want to know why things happen to us, but Jesus said to simply bear fruit and give God the glory. Everything that comes into our lives has this same purpose to fulfill in our lives, we bear fruitage which in turn will bring God glory! If we are faithful, we will be fruitful. The people around us will see the results and God will receive the glory. Paul was the ultimate evangelist....he was able to use imprisonment to convert the household of Caesar and many of the praetorian guard. They saw in Paul the joy of the Lord in very trying circumstances. Paul used his trials to bring God glory. We can do the same. No matter what the circumstances that you find yourself in today, be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ and let the glory and praise go to your Father in heaven.

Father, help us to stop analyzing life’s experiences and to just grow from them. Help us to bear fruit for you, that people who look at us will praise YOU for what You have accomplished in us. Bestow on us the depth of insight that will allow us to learn from the trials of life that Your love might be manifest to all those around us. Amen