John 12:24
“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.”
I have the privilege of living in the Pacific Northwest where salmon go through their life cycle. Many species of salmon spend several years at sea before returning to spawn, after which they die.
Think of that! They go through extreme ordeals to return to the place where they were hatched. That is where the female will lay hundreds of eggs. After the male fertilizes the eggs, both parents die. Through death there comes new life.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus is teaching a positive lesson about death to selfish ambitions. He was about to lay down His own life in order that others may inherit eternal life. He died that others may live.
It is possible to hold too tightly to one’s life rather than giving ourselves for others. We have family and friends who are observing our actions as well as hearing our words. Sadly they often see us living more for ourselves than for others. What does it mean to spiritually die for others?
- Always put Christ first in your life.
- Live outside of your comfort zone.
- Be willing to give until it hurts.
- Repeatedly affirm,“Not my will, but Christ’s be done!”— Then live it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil