The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
Pruning for Growth: God’s Discipline, John 15:1-8
The Christian life flourishes through moment-by-moment dependence upon Jesus Christ, who serves as our spiritual lifeline. This underscores a central truth of spiritual formation: we thrive spiritually not by agonizing self-effort or spiritual independence, but through simple union and communion with the risen Lord. God the Father, in his wisdom and love, employs both gentle pruning and necessary discipline to ensure that we grow healthy and bear fruit, removing from us what hinders growth while strengthening what bears fruit. This intimate abiding relationship with Christ becomes the foundation for effective prayer, authentic discipleship, and lives that genuinely honor God. We must daily surrender our tendency toward self-reliance and instead cultivate practices that deepen our connection to Jesus—through prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, and obedient response to his leading—trusting that the Father’s pruning work, though sometimes painful, always serves our ultimate spiritual good.
Our Focus Today
The Ultimate Purpose of Spiritual Formation, John 15:8
Our spiritual fruitfulness serves for the purpose of glorifying God, thus authenticating our true discipleship.
Invocation
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge today that your glory is the ultimate purpose and goal of all my spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Help me to cultivate my own spiritual life in such a way that I may consistently bring you glory, providing compelling evidence of your transforming work within me. Grant me new depths of gentleness and humility to recognize that I show my authentic discipleship not by my own efforts but through the spiritual fruit that flows from intimate relationship with Jesus, your Son and my Savior. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Saturday: Ezek. 14-16
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Saturday: Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109, 139 and Proverbs 19
The Ultimate Purpose of Spiritual Formation, John 15:8
Our spiritual fruitfulness serves for the purpose of glorifying God, thus authenticating our true discipleship.
Reflection
The ultimate purpose of spiritual formation is stated here plain and direct: the glorification of God! Spirituality is not primarily about personal fulfillment or spiritual achievement but honoring the Father in all that we become and do. True discipleship is authenticated by fruit, abundant and true, not by our religious activities, theological knowledge, or church involvement. Our intimacy with Christ brings honor and glory to the Father and proves our true relationship with him. This God-centered perspective on spiritual growth can help us maintain proper motivation and focus, ensuring that our pursuit of spiritual maturity seeks to serve God’s glory rather than our own reputation or sense of accomplishment.
Engaging God’s Word Today
When you consider the spiritual fruit currently evident in your life, how clearly does it point others toward God’s glory rather than your own efforts and abilities? Can you think of any specific changes you may need to make to ensure your discipleship serves as an living witness to your connection to Christ?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
True and living Vine, make my life a living testimony to the Father’s own glory, bearing abundant spiritual fruit that clearly demonstrates the reality of my relationship with you. Let others see in my spiritual walk of discipleship an authentic reflection of your humility and lowliness rather than my own fleshly effort and religious performance. And show me how to live with your joy and hope, knowing that my spiritual growth serves the highest possible purpose—bringing honor and glory to your Father who loves me and is continuing his work of formation within me. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV)
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
“Don’t Break the Chain”
Countless people have tracked their habits, but perhaps the most famous was Benjamin Franklin. Beginning at age twenty, Franklin carried a small booklet everywhere he went and used it to track thirteen personal virtues. This list included goals like “Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful” and “Avoid trifling conversation.” At the end of each day, Franklin would open his booklet and record his progress.
Jerry Seinfeld reportedly uses a habit tracker to stick with his streak of writing jokes. In the documentary Comedian, he explains that his goal is simply to “never break the chain” of writing jokes every day. In other words, he is not focused on how good or bad a particular joke is or how inspired he feels. He is simply focused on showing up and adding to his streak. “Don’t break the chain” is a powerful mantra. Don’t break the chain of sales calls and you’ll build a successful book of business.
Don’t break the chain of workouts and you’ll get fit faster than you’d expect. Don’t break the chain of creating every day and you will end up with an impressive portfolio. Habit tracking is powerful because it leverages multiple Laws of Behavior Change. It simultaneously makes a behavior obvious, attractive, and satisfying.
~ Clear, James, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Penguin Random House UK, 2018. Electronic Edition, Location 360.
Seedling Focus for the Season: Whoever Sows Generously Will Reap Generously
Description: Generosity is like sowing seeds that will one day yield a great harvest, 2 Cor. 9:6-8.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
God’s Triumphant Love, Romans 5:1-5.
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