Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: June 11th

" Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." - John 15:8.

This is a valid argument with those that are concerned for the glory of God. It is addressed to those who are acquainted with this spring of action. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork; but in vain, till Christians in a far higher degree exhibit his glory by showing that Christ is the true vine, and that they who abide in him obtain the communications of a divine life, and produce heavenly fruits on earth. What the sun, moon, and stars, the hills and the floods, volcanoes and earthquakes, rainbows and flowers, what the works of God in nature and in providence have not succeeded in doing, it is yours under peculiar circumstances, and by the subordination of mightiest means, to attempt. Innumerable spectators from the worlds on high, watch with breathless interest the progress of this experiment. And can it be that what the magnificent and all-resplendent orbs of space have not accomplished, shall be brought about by the instrumentality of a little company of converted sinners? That you shall show forth the glory of God, and constrain the world to take knowledge of his perfections?

Christ is the vine, and you are the branches; wherefore your fruit is Christ’s fruit. The world did not get rid of him by killing him. He lives in you and produces fruit in you. His meekness and lowliness are to find their exhibition through you. His self-denial and love; his zeal and faithfulness; his faith and prayerfulness; his wisdom and patience; his fortitude, his impartiality, his purity, all his admirable characteristics are to abide in the world, for you are in the world. Then will the world find Itself baffled and confounded, when having crucified Christ in Jerusalem, it finds him springing up again not only in Jerusalem, but in Samaria, Joppa, Damascus, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, and in fact everywhere through out the world.

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