"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
John 12:24
This past spring, a friend planted some of the most beautiful flowers that I have ever seen outiside my front door. God's creative juices must have really been flowing when he created this particular kind of flower, because they are gorgeous! It's hard to believe that those vibrant, lush, colorful flowers started out as a tiny, dead seed!
These thoughts take me in a couple of directions. The first is one in regards to ministry. Every Christian has a ministry. Some are more successful than others. The ones that seem to thrive and flourish are the ones where the Christians have thoroughly died to themselves and are living each day with the goal of letting Christ shine through them and letting Him receive all of the glory. Too many times ministries are filled with "I". "I" am doing this for God. Look what "I" have accomplished! How much more could they do for God if they let Him work through them and took the focus off of themselves?
The other direction my thinking takes me in when I read this verse is how amazing it is that God can use anything or anyone! He actually prefers to use the little brown, dried-up seed! When someone dies to themselves and gives God control of their life, the harvest can be huge!!
The original word that is used in this verse paints a picture of not only dying, but decay. Do you think your life is too rotten for God to use you? Nothing could be further from the truth! He prefers to use people like you. People who know they are nothing on their own and need the power of God to grow, become beautiful and reap an abundant harvest!!
I have so much to learn!
These thoughts take me in a couple of directions. The first is one in regards to ministry. Every Christian has a ministry. Some are more successful than others. The ones that seem to thrive and flourish are the ones where the Christians have thoroughly died to themselves and are living each day with the goal of letting Christ shine through them and letting Him receive all of the glory. Too many times ministries are filled with "I". "I" am doing this for God. Look what "I" have accomplished! How much more could they do for God if they let Him work through them and took the focus off of themselves?
The other direction my thinking takes me in when I read this verse is how amazing it is that God can use anything or anyone! He actually prefers to use the little brown, dried-up seed! When someone dies to themselves and gives God control of their life, the harvest can be huge!!
The original word that is used in this verse paints a picture of not only dying, but decay. Do you think your life is too rotten for God to use you? Nothing could be further from the truth! He prefers to use people like you. People who know they are nothing on their own and need the power of God to grow, become beautiful and reap an abundant harvest!!
I have so much to learn!
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