Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ~ John 12:20-31
Most people, even Christians who expect to be with the Lord for eternity, avoid thinking about death. But Jesus told us that a grain of wheat that doesn’t die remains a single grain of wheat, but a grain that dies sprouts and produces much fruit. In the same way, we must die to ourselves to be reborn as fruitful members of Christ’s Body. We must hate our lives here on earth to gain life eternal.
Heavenly Father, I want to be fruitful and spend eternity with You, yet the temptations of this world draw me away from You. Focus my heart on You and my perspective on Heaven and make me fruitful. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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