May 31, 2021: To "Die-To-Self" Will Produce Much Reward in This World and For Eternity with Jesus.

In the Book of John in chapter 12, Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover and many people heard about His coming and many came to see and hear what Jesus had to say. His entry was on the day we now call, Palm Sunday.

John 12: 20-22

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

It was during this time that Jesus said some very insightful words to the crowd of people. He used the illustration of a grain that goes into the ground "must die" first before it can produce much fruit. He was not only speaking of His death but also the death of ourselves.

When Jesus died on the "Cross of Calvary", His death became the very sacrifice that has produced millions upon millions of "fruit for God's kingdom". We are that "fruit" that Jesus died for...you and me. But Jesus also stated that we too must "die to ourselves" while we are still in this world to be able to produce much fruit as well.

John 12: 23-26

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 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. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

When we come to "die-to-self" daily, and "absolutely surrender" everything to God, we are now allowing the Holy Spirit to take full control of our lives to be used by God. It is only through the "power of the Holy Spirit", that our fruit can be produced through us. It is nothing we can do, but all through the Holy Spirit. "None of Us but All of Him".

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

But let us not forget the "warning" Jesus give us as well: "He who loves his life will lose it", and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life", (John 12: 25). Let us not hold on to our lives because eventually we will lose it. The grain that does not die, "It will remain alone". Let us seek to serve Jesus through our "full and absolute surrender" so that our God will come to honor us with "our reward" in heaven.