DIE TO LIVE!
DIE TO LIVE!
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. —John 12:24-26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY
Are you a grain of wheat that has died? If not, then you will remain alone, but if you have died then you will bear much fruit. This is to the glory of our Father— “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples” (John 15:8). How do we die? How do we bear much fruit? It depends on where our allegiance is. Do we love this life in this world? Are we focused on it and living here to the point we are not serving our Lord and following Him as He desires? To die to self is to focus on serving Jesus, following Him and doing His will. When we obediently serve Him then much fruit will come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQ9TU4Zxwc
Am I alone? What fruit have I borne that I am not alone? Who with me is the evidence that I am not alone and that I have borne fruit? We will bear fruit if we are obediently serving Jesus and our Father will honor that person. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uZGA033LPU
So here is what I have been thinking lately— What does my “tree” look like? “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Am I a tree of life? What fruit gives evidence that I am? How many branches have grown off my “trunk” and branches off of those branches? Am I an unhealthy tree with no branches or a tree that has branches that have budded off of me and yet have not developed branches themselvesthat budded off of them? Am I discipling people that will disciple people that will disciple people and so forth to the end of time? This is my heart’s desire and may I be more intentional about doing so than I have ever been. Yes dear Father, may this so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus all for Your glory and honor. So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJq1N4PiH28