The Seed that Comes to Life

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel if 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” (John 12:24-26).

God sometimes sends us a wintry season that we may the better bring forth summer fruit. It is the way of the Lord to work for a season, as it were, underground: and as the seed that dies in the earth, through dying, comes to life, so God will seem to cut off the hope of fruit of our labor; yet when we have humbled ourselves under His hand, and He has secured the glory to Himself, He will put forth His power and bring to life our buried hopes.

There may be much communion with God when there is but little comfort in the soul, and much fruitfulness when there is but little joy and gladness. We bear fruit when we credit the Word of God against appearance, and when we submit our will to His.

There is no security for our bringing forth fruit in time to come, if we are not bringing forth fruit in the present hour. How often we fail and miscarry toward the end of a trial of patience! Do not expect to make great strides at once in believing; or that deep sanctification is to be wrought in a day. We can never be said to have outlived our usefulness, unless we have outlived our spirituality. We must first come to the withering of the flesh, before we can become spiritually strong and fruitful. (Robert C. Chapman).

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