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.
When I was stationed at a remote radar site on the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada, I listened to sermon tapes of some of the great men of God. One of my favorite ministers was Major Ian Thomas, and one of his messages was based on today’s Scripture which dealt with our calling to die to self in order to live for the Lord.
One particular statement by Major Thomas has remained with me for over 40 years, and I have not been the only one impacted by the illustration he gave concerning our Lord and our response to Him: The life that He lived qualified Him for the death that He died—and the death that He died qualifies us for the life that we live.
It was a sinless life that Jesus lived in order to be the perfect and blameless Lamb of God that was slain in order to pay the price for our salvation. We may think of salvation as being a free gift of God, but the cost to the Son of God was His life. He died that we might live for Him.
This is where we need to open our minds to understand that we must die to our self-serving nature. Only as we die to our own self-centered agenda will we be able to experience what His will is for our life. Like the Apostle Paul we need to grasp the reality that we live for Christ and our death is not something to be dreaded, but the reward for all who have experienced the new birth. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil