Day 30 - Dear God, I'm Yours! (John 12:20-26)

John 12:20-26 reads..."Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, 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. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his 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."

Jesus Christ came on a mission.  He brought people a challenge.  "My Father will honor the one who serves me" (John 12:26).

Sometimes we get it backwards.  We think that God "belongs to us."  That He has to help us out, or we will decide not to follow Him.  Basically, we act as if God has to prove Himself to us.

Here, some Greeks want to see Jesus.  Andrew and Philip bring Jesus this news.  Jesus seems to ignore it as he starts talking metaphorically about his own death.  This "seed" is going to die, and produce many seeds.  

Jesus' life is supposed to be reproduced in many lives.  

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your life should be a modern-day version of His very life.  Your life should be 100% focused on giving up your life for Christ.  Total loyalty, obedience, and self-abandonment here.

This sort of commitment is far from common these days, but this is the standard Jesus describes for us.  Lose your life.  Follow me.  Be my disciple.  Live by my word.

This sort of commitment only comes by prayer.  Only by seeking God's heart through Scriptures and studying the life of Jesus.  Only by putting my sinful desires and my past temptations to death.  Only by seeking to let my life "die," just as Jesus let his life "die."

This sort of commitment earns God's favor.  "My Father will honor the one who..."

Evaluate your commitment level today.  Does your life here on earth belong to God or to yourself?  What would it look like to let your "kernel of wheat" - your earthly existence - fall to the ground and die in the name of Christ?  

At some point, we decide if we want to pursue a lasting, eternal life that honors God... or not.  We decide each day whether to follow through with that pursuit... or not.  

Dear God, 

Help me learns what it means to "hate my life" - to let go of my personal ambitions or tastes, and make room for You as the top priority.  Help me seek to serve You before I serve myself.  Help me take every thought, every intention, every desire... and evaluate those things in light of my commitment to you.  Help me learn more this week about what it means to belong to you first, and not give in as a slave to selfishness.