Spiritual germination ∙∙

Spiritual germination ∙∙

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. – John 12:24

John 12:24-26

 24 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.

 25 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.

 26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

The germination process is a fascinating enigma that continues to elude complete understanding by contemporary science. Plant seeds can be likened to compact survival kits packed with sufficient food, nutrients, and a blueprint for life. These seeds burst into life, cultivating roots and a small plant, eventually emerging from the soil as a sprout. This entire sequence of events is what we call germination. For sustained growth, the seedling relies on light, water, and nutrients present in its environment.

In its initial state, the seed is dormant, appearing lifeless and serving no apparent purpose – it seems dead. By itself, the seed serves no function, and it is, practically speaking, useless. However, once it’s planted, everything changes. The seed undergoes a metaphorical death, only to be reborn with renewed vitality.

Similarly, the concept of spiritual germination is equally miraculous and paradoxical. Spiritual life and growth only come by death. To bring salvation to humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ had to die. But His death was not the end. By the mighty power of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to live again. He offers salvation and eternal life to anyone who will take it. Life comes from death.

“Jesus used the image of a seed to illustrate the great spiritual truth that there can be no glory without suffering, no fruitful life without death, no victory without surrender” (Wiersbe). All children of the King are His seeds. Each of us comes with life within, the Father’s eternal life, and an instruction manual of sorts. New pages unfold as we walk with Him.

REFLECT & PRAY

Only when we die to our personal ambitions and goals can we truly begin living for the Father.

Father how I long to fulfill Your dreams for my life. Encourage me to continually surrender my personal ambitions and goals in exchange for Yours.

INSIGHT

As children of the King, truly living and fulfilling the Father’s dreams and ambitions for our lives requires a trade-off. Dying to self is difficult, and each of us struggles with it. This personal challenge is presented to each child of the King.

“If a seed could talk, it would no doubt complain about being put into the cold, dark earth. But the only way it can achieve its goal is by being planted” (Wiersbe).

We can choose to remain alone, isolated, seemingly protected, and comfortable. But as such, we are not experiencing the spiritual life the Father intended for us. It is a decision that we have to make for ourselves. Once we choose to die to ourselves, it is a commitment that we will continue to make throughout our lives.

John 12:25 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.

We are the seeds of the Father; He is the one who does the sowing. He plants us wherever He desires. Consider the story involving an isolated mission station. A group of outsiders decided to visit and speak with the missionaries living there. The dialogue ensued as follows:

“You certainly have buried yourself out here!” one of the visitors exclaimed.

“We haven’t buried ourselves,” the missionary replied. “We were planted!” (Wiersbe)

But there’s more. Only when we choose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ do we become the Father’s servants and Christ’s disciples.

John 12:26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

The statement “I serve at the pleasure of the President” has been used since the 1700s. When somebody uses the phrase, it means, “I will continue to serve as long as the president wants me to.” It’s an official way to explain that the President is one’s direct boss, and only the President has the authority to remove that person from their post …and no one else. That person will continue to serve as long as the president wants them to.

The term “the pleasure of (someone),” as defined by Webster, implies that “an action is or can be performed because someone desires it.” The statement “I serve at the pleasure of” was frequently used by individuals who were in service to kings and other royal authorities. Serving the King was considered a significant honor.

“The origin (of the phrase) is the Latin durante bene placito regis, which translates as ‘during the pleasure of the king’” (William Safire).

Being children of the King bestows upon us the great honor and privilege of serving at the pleasure of the King of Kings. What a high and great calling to be a servant of the King. Yet the Father has called us to be just that.

How do we maximize our existence in this life? How do we achieve the most in this life? The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are explicit: it is done by living sacrificially, dying to ourselves, and surrendering our own desires instead of living for our own interests. Putting it another way, a life focused on self is a squandered life. Any benefits derived from a self-centered lifestyle are ephemeral and transitory. What we do in His service has everlasting consequences.

If we lead a Father-centered life, we acquire eternal significance and value. The Father will honor anyone who serves the Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:26). “People whose priorities are right have such an attitude of love for the things of God that all interest in the affairs of this life appears by comparison as hatred” (Constable).

“Of itself, a seed is weak and useless, but when it is planted, it ‘dies’ and becomes fruitful. There is both beauty and bounty when a seed ‘dies’ and fulfills its purpose. If a seed could talk, it would no doubt complain about being put into the cold, dark earth. But the only way it can achieve its goal is by being planted.”

“God’s children are like seeds. They are small and insignificant, but they have life in them, God’s life. However, that life can never be fulfilled unless we yield ourselves to God and permit Him to ‘plant us.’ We must die to self so that we may live unto God (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20). The only way to have a fruitful life is to follow Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection.”

“In these words, Jesus challenges us today to surrender our lives to Him. Note the contrasts: loneliness or fruitfulness; losing your life or keeping your life; serving self or serving Christ; pleasing self or receiving God’s honor” (Wiersbe).

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

“Death is the way to life” (BKC).

What a great honor and privilege to be able to say, “I serve at the pleasure of my King, the King of kings.”

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 12-04-1

© Dr. H 2024