February 17

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” —JOHN 12:24

When people come to Christ they are looking for fulfillment, for new life, power and provision. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). That’s the invitation, but Jesus also says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). These two statements appear as a paradox to the Christian life, but are actually a means to an end.

In John 12:25 Jesus says, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Here’s the irony – the means to life is through death. The end is wholeness, but the means to wholeness is brokenness. The end is victory, but the means is suffering. The end is resurrection but the means is through crucifixion. A few days before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). That’s about the particular issue of Christ’s crucifixion, but the general principle lies in whoever loves their life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. In other words, not only is Christ willing to die to produce fruit, but so must we be willing to die to produce fruit.

This isn’t about physical death, but about dying to our own desires and agenda to live for Christ’s agenda. There are many who want what Christ offers but are not willing to pay the price of becoming His disciple. In effect, they want their name on the ticket to heaven, but don’t want to live under the authority in which the ticket was given. They remain a single seed that doesn’t germinate, spring to life or bear fruit.

If a grain of wheat is going to reproduce itself, it first has to go into the ground and die. This isn’t about living in a dark hole, but about living in the fullness of Christ in order to release something far richer and deeper. Just as the seed in the ground germinates, comes to life and produces fruit, the seed of the Gospel planted in our hearts comes to life in the power of the resurrected life of Christ. The natural consequence of the love, joy and peace of Christ indwelling our hearts is that it overflows in blessings to others, thereby planting more seed. And as workers together with Christ, there is nothing that brings more joy than to plant a seed, which the Holy Spirit will bring to life.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the seed planted in me. May it flourish, Lord, so that I may be the means of planting the seed of the Gospel in others.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I using God-given opportunities to plant the seed of the Gospel in others?