Read: John 12:16-26
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (v. 24)
My granddaughter helped me plant snow peas, poking the earth with her finger, placing a seed into each hole. For that seed to sprout, it must lose its protective covering, break apart, and disintegrate into the earth. Only after this “death” will it grow into a productive plant.
God has given us beautiful examples of this foundational principle: in death, new life is born. A seed that refuses to die will never become a plant. So it is with our lives—death must come before resurrection. We must die to living only for our own desires. Only then can we be born into new life with Christ. He has shown us the way by his own death and resurrection. Jesus admonished his disciples, saying, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Paul said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
How do we daily take up our cross? It may be helpful to ask God to reveal to us what is contrary to his desire. We can give up those things knowing by faith that new life will come. In our journey toward Christlikeness, there are many deaths along the way as we are constantly being renewed into new life. —Bonnie Nicholas
As you pray, ask God to remove fear and give you hope in the new life that is being created.
About the Author
Bonnie Nicholas, LMSW, retired in 2020 after serving as Director of Safe Church Ministry in the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
