The Grain of Wheat

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The life of Jesus is such a great example for us all. Once Peter and the other

disciples realized who Jesus was, Jesus’ teaching began to change. He focused

his efforts to move toward Jerusalem, the place where he knew he would be

betrayed, falsely judged, condemned and crucified. Intentionally he moved

toward Jerusalem and the cross. And as he went, he taught his disciples the

cost of discipleship. Jesus didn’t mince words. He told it plainly. He called us

to take up our cross daily and follow him.

Jesus said in John 12:23 – 28, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be

glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and

dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many

seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their

life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow

me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who

serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me

from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father,

glorify your name!”

When you plant a wheat seed or a maize seed, or really any grain, things

change. A planted seed is no good to eat any more. Under the soil, it becomes

useless to eat. Its shape changes as it swells with moisture. Its husk loosens

from the grain. No one calls it “grain” any more. It’s essentially dead and

useless for food. But the best is yet to come. Because that useless grain

becomes a tiny, living, growing, tender plant. It doesn’t look like much, but oh

is it full of potential! As it grows and develops, that new little plant gets tall

and strong. It then produces grain: many grains of seed. And it brings the

farmer joy at harvest time.

None of this would have happened if that little grain of wheat had not hit the

soil, been covered with dirt, and died as a grain. Just like Jesus said, “Unless a

kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But

if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Your life and my life is just like that kernel of wheat: full of unrealized

potential. So very full of potential. We have no idea of the number of lives we

can impact for good if we only die to self and give ourselves wholly to Jesus.

But we know for sure, if we do not die to selfish goals and self-serving visions

to make Jesus king of our lives, we won’t do much good for ourselves or for

others in this world. We die to self by giving up self-centered goals to go where

Jesus wants us to go, do what Jesus wants us to do, and say what Jesus wants

us to say. Even when it costs us everything. At that point, Jesus’ promise

begins to be fulfilled. He said, “If it dies, it produces many seeds.” When

Christians die to self and live for God the blessings that flow are limitless. This

too is the power of multiplication.

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Wheat #MultiplyDisciples