My Life Is the Grain That Bears Much Fruit

My Life Is the Grain That Bears Much Fruit

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. John 12:24–25 (NLT)

In this passage, Jesus presents Himself as the primary grain of wheat who would die to produce a harvest of millions of saved lives. But this divine principle also applies directly to us. It teaches that if a believer “dies” to self—to selfish desires and personal agendas—he or she can produce much fruit for the Kingdom of God. It is the paradox of the Kingdom: the difference between a life that “remains alone” and a life that results in an abundant harvest.

• Living for oneself is to remain alone.
  If we live selfishly, like most people—seeking only to enrich ourselves and “live the wild life”—we will end up alone. We will produce only the fruit of a conflicted world full of evil and the works of the flesh.

• “Dying to self” is a decision to live by the Spirit.
  Instead of choosing what is carnal, we can choose to “die to self,” renouncing those desires and choosing to live in order to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23, NLT). In this way, our life will not be in vain but will produce much good fruit.

• Dying involves surrendering our dreams to God.
  Decades ago, my wife Dinora and I said to God, “Here I am, send me.” We surrendered our own dreams and embraced God’s dreams. We decided not to live for ourselves, but for God and for people.

• Dying means reproducing yourself in other leaders.
  A practical way to “die” is to not cling to power or positions of influence but to lift others up. This year we have the joy and satisfaction of establishing new pastoral leaders at ACFC so that we continue bearing fruit. This is a way of “falling to the ground and dying” so that we may bear much fruit.

• The “much fruit” is the harvest of transformed lives.
  Today we can see the result of that sowing. We can see thousands of souls saved through Águilas CFC; thousands of marriages, youth, and children restored—people who now have their eternal home in heaven. By living for God, we have also produced fruit in countless leaders in society, in schools, in homes, and in the church.

True satisfaction is not found in protecting and loving our own life, but in sowing it. By “dying” to our own plans—releasing control and allowing God to use us to lift others—we ensure that the harvest continues. It is the paradox of the Kingdom: those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Lord, I desire to keep living for You and producing many more leaders.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. John 12:24–25 (NLT)

Think About It:

1. In what area of your life are you “remaining alone” because you are clinging to your own plans instead of “dying” to self?

2. What “personal dream” or “position” do you need to surrender to God so you can embrace His plans and bear more fruit?

3. Whom are you raising as a leader? How can you “die to self” this week to invest in someone else and help them grow?