| “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” – John 12:24 |
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| Death to self brings life and produces fruit for the Savior Being fruitful is a major objective of the Christian life. From John 15 Jesus taught that we have been appointed to bear much fruit and the Father is glorified as we bear fruit. The apostle Paul prayed that the Colossians would be fruitful in every good work. Since we are to be fruitful we need to LEARN how to be fruitful. As a master teacher Jesus gave illustrations to bring truth to life and in John 12:24 He gives an agricultural illustration for what it is going to take to be fruitful. From John 12:24 we learn one of the most incredible concepts about being fruitful. Pay close attention. For there to be fruit there has to be death. FOR THERE TO BE FRUIT THERE HAS TO BE DEATH. My background is in farming. I grew up on a farm in Virginia and at a very young age was very involved with my father and grandfather in growing a variety of crops. Because of helping plant corn, PLANTING A SEED of corn in the ground I easily understood what Jesus taught in John 12:24. Each year there were bags of SEED corn. These SEEDS had one purpose and that purpose was to PRODUCE more grain or kernels. Did you know that one seed of corn will, on average, produce two ears of corn with each ear having about 800 kernels? 1 seed of corn would produce 1600 kernels. Now for us to get 1600 kernels the SEED corn had to DIE. The next time you eat corn on the cob look at all those kernels and remember John 12:24 and that one seed – ONE SEED – produced that and another ear of corn. What are we learning about being fruitful for the Savior? Just as a seed of corn is planted and it dies you then find the dead seed sprouts and begins to live and produce, it produces much or more grain. One dead grain, a dead seed, now produces many grains!! In Luke 9:23 we are called to DIE DAILY! We are called to die to self! In doing so we can become producers and bring forth fruit, much fruit, fruit that will remain. As you look at your life you are called to die to self like that seed of corn and when you do you begin to truly live and become fruitful! Verse to DATE the Word on December 24 (12/24) is John 12:24. It says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Continue Strong by dying to self And remember to DATE THE WORD |