Show it off

My first car was a 1978 Datsun B-210 hatch back.  It was complete with pin striping, a spoiler on the back window and fake leather seats.  It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but it was mine, and I was proud of it.

I decided that it needed a really nice stereo system (which ended up tripling the value of that car).  Every time the bass would hit, the headlights would dim.  I loved that car.  I was thankful for it.  To me, it had value, and it showed.

Most of us, when we think about showing something off, we have a negative image.  We think of that punk kid in our class who always had new Air Jordans while we were rocking LA Gear.  We think of our neighbor who always was headed somewhere incredible for a family vacation, while we were lucky to go to the KOA campground.

In Philippians 1:11 Paul encourages the church:

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Paul is reminding believers that when we live out righteous character, it brings glory and praise to God.  When our lives get “shown off” it doesn’t point people to us, it should point them back to Jesus.  Grace does that.

Think about what Paul is saying here:

“…be filled with the fruit of your salvation…” The source of my salvation isn’t me.  It is all Jesus.

“…the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ…” Not only is Jesus the source of my salvation, He is also the source of my fruit (evidence) being developed in my life!

“…this will bring much glory and praise to God.” The byproduct of me living a life of righteous character, which is fruit of my salvation and developed in me through Jesus, is that God gets the glory and praise.

When we allow our lives to display (or “show off”) the fruit of being saved by Jesus grace, He gets the credit and glory.  It all comes back to Jesus!