John 12:24
The seasons are starting to change. In my area, winter is starting to give way to spring. The days are getting longer, and the temperatures are starting to warm up. With the rains, the hills all around are turning green, and life is sprouting up everywhere. Most everyone loves the new life that comes with spring. Just like the seasons of nature, Christians go through seasons of growth as well. It’s when those seeds of God’s word, which were planter in your heart, shoot forth and begin to grow.
Death Brings Life
A grain of wheat is a seed. Unless that grain is planted, it will never produce wheat. The process by which that happens is that the kernel of wheat dies and gives life to a stalk of wheat, which has multiple wheat kernels that can either be processed into flour or replanted to produced more wheat. Jesus uses this metaphor to let His followers know that He must die so that people could be made right with God. If He didn’t die, then he would’ve been known as a good teacher, and people would die in their sins.
Producing Fruit
If your life is going to produce fruit, you have to die to your wants and agenda. By die, I don’t mean physical death, but a spiritual one. You have to sacrifice your desires and agenda to the Lord so that your life will come into alignment with His will. When you do this, you are ready to produce fruit that can be used for the glory of God. If you refuse to surrender to the will of God in your life, you will continue to live only for yourself.
Seasons of Growth
Every person wants to live a fruitful life. It is deeply embedded in each of us, but there has to be sacrifice for it to happen. You can’t continue in your selfish pursuits and expect God to bless it. There needs to be a moment where you choose His ways over your ways. When you do, you will start to see the fruit becoming evident in your life.
