If one kernel of corn was to stay a kernel of corn, it abides by itself but if it is buried into the ground and dies to itself, it will bring forth a multitude of fruit.
This is the idea behind dying to self. It's such an important subject, that isn't talked about enough, I wanted to have another day talking about it.
Any kind of plant that creates seed will do so with the intention for that seed to create new life. In much the same way, we are seeds of God when we come to Christ. We are on the cob, one kernel of corn all packed tightly together and just having a good time. But when we come to Christ we have the opportunity to fall away from the crowd and choose to die to the self nature. We will be planted, nurtured and grown into a beautiful stalk that has a multitude of kernels that will feed many.
Luke 8:5-8 NLT
A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Luke 8:11-15 NLT
This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
When I read this for the first time I always thought that this was a parable about those that are lost versus those that are saved. Later on I realized only the seed that was eaten by the birds were unsaved. The rest are those that come to Christ and face all types of issues along the way. Obviously, the goal for a seed being planted is so they can do like the last one does and bring forth a harvest. Patiently in NLT, preserving in NIV, most other translations say bringing forth fruit in patience. Which means enduring till the end. This indicates action on our part. We must endure with patience as we co-labor with God to work out our salvation.
I wanted to talk to you about some personal experiences I've had with this. It all begins with awareness. God gives me an acute awareness of my position in a specific area in my life. So many times, while talking to God, He gives me clarity in what I'm discussing with Him. It starts out with a question usually. I begin with the question that is on my heart. For example, I could ask Him; God, why do I feel so alone when I know you are always there? I'm sure I am not the only one who has asked that. After the question, I talk to Him about my current knowledge. It would go something like this. Lord, I know you are everywhere and that you see everything. I've read that you love me and want to be with me. I know your Son came to reconcile us back to you. Most of the time, in mid sentence, I'll get this jolt of understanding that stops me in my tracks. He'll transfer that knowledge from head to heart and move me to tears when I truly see the truth behind my question. From that moment on, the truth has freed me and has made me closer than before. I call it a revelation because that's what it is. It's not the last book of the Bible but it's a revelation of truth that has been revealed to you. It truly is a wonderful thing.
One revelation I remember, like it was yesterday, is when God showed me in my heart that I was loved by Him. He showed me that I was looking for validation and love from others in my life and if I didn't get that, it affected me so much so that depression would set in. Let me interject the truth He has placed in me. We will never, and I mean never, feel loved by anyone or anything outside of God. A person filled with Him has the capacity to Love you but unless you can receive that love, emptiness will prevail. You see, there's a definite difference in knowing truth and receiving truth. To receive, you must agree with it. God can give you revelations all day but until you receive His truth as truth then you stay unchanged. If He is revealing how you are and showing you your filthiness, then you must accept it before you can get delivered from it. You won't be delivered from something you think isn't an issue.
So, here I was, in my car driving and I had been in depression for a while. I was trying to receive love from worldly sources but to no avail. Then out of the blue, as I was in conversation with Him, He hit me with a realization that He loved me. Now that sounds simple but it went from head to heart in a moment and I finally felt selflessly loved for the first time in my life. We say we love but we have selfish love and not selfless love. I realized He loved me and it changed me forever. I no longer seek the approval of others. That doesn't mean I go around doing what I want and when I want but it means I no longer need validation from someone else for me to get through the day. I no longer needed to change to get someone else's approval. I no longer needed to condemn myself because I felt unworthy or I didn't need to try and feel loved from sources that couldn't provide it.
My wife and I when we became Christians had been through struggles in our marriage. To change things around we turned to self help guides like Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus and The Five Love Languages. Both books helped us see where the other person was emotionally and enlighten us to each others needs. So, after reading the books and heavily leaning on the Love Languages, we'd communicate our needs to each other and discuss what filled our love tank. Basically it's, if I do something that makes you feel loved, then you should do something for me. It's a selfish way to get those feelings of love validated and it only works for so long. What if that person you rely on suddenly stops feeding your love tank or dies, heaven forbid, or changes work schedules. Basically, if they don't continue to pour out love the way you need it then things get bad again.
So, as I progressed through the books and then eventually leaning on God more, He hit me with the fact that I don't need love from the world because His love wasn't based on my performance. His is an unselfish love. He loves the murderer as much as He loves the saints. He loves a child molester as much as He loves the prostitute or the drug lord or the dictator that's killed thousands. He loves everyone equally and that is freeing because I don't have to qualify for it. I don't have to do anything for it but believe in it which is sometimes the hardest thing to do because we are a selfish people. The world is based on selfishness. Do for me, I do for you. Don't do for me then I'm sure as heck ain't gonna do for you. We want satisfaction, we want a return on investment. It's not that way with God. Does He want a return on investment, yes but it doesn't effect His outpouring. If we gave our time to someone by helping them move. Later down the road when we asked them for help and they said no, we would immediately bring up the fact that you helped them. We keep track of our doings for others, we keep a mental log of who owes us what or how much we did. God, when we accept His love, doesn't keep track of our wrongs. He doesn't throw our past in our faces and say, worship me now and give me all your money because I remember when you were in hell and I rescued you out of that. No, He doesn't even remember them. All He sees is the potential we have as being renewed in Him. He sees a final product instead of what we were. If a farmer always dwelled on the fact that his fields were hard dry dirt then he wouldn't plant a seed. Instead, a farmer sees a field full of what he wants to plant. God sees a world full of Himself as He has planted that seed in all who believe.
So, now that we've gone down that rabbit hole, lets back up and get back to revelations from Him. He wants us to come to Him and be changed from the inside out. He wants us to come closer by asking questions and seeking answers. We cannot move forward unless we stop looking backwards. Like Lot's wife, we will turn to stone if we keep looking at our pasts because it locks you in doubt and fear and keeps you from moving forward in Him. So die daily to what you knew about yourself. Die daily to selfish needs and wants. Die daily to how you see yourself. Die daily by seeking God and being changed from what you were, into what He is. Expect change and cultivate it. Now there's a line if I have ever heard one. Expect change and cultivate it. Grow up in God, let Him fertilize your heart with the truth and watch you grow. Don't be the seed that lets life take Him away and don't let the world be a substitute for Him. Be the soil that hungers and thirsts for Him. Be the soil that seeks Him, for He will water you when needed and give you light to grow.
I hope this encouraged someone to come out of depression or anxiety and to be released of the lies your told every day. Know one thing and one thing only, you are Loved by the one who created the heavens and the Earth. You are loved by the one who sacrificed His son to get you out of all that fear and doubt. Wherever you read this, stop right now and ask Him to reveal His love to you. Believe and be transformed!
To God,
You are always there for me, whether I screw up or I feel like I fail you. Lord you keep me by your side and you lead me daily. If I stray, and I do Lord, I know all I have to do is run back to you and you are there with your arms wide. Lord I thank you for everything you have done in my life. Through the struggles and successes, you are truly changing me and I love you for that.
To You be all the Glory!
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