Dying to Self

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12: 24).

Planting season is almost here, and as any farmer knows, a plant which will yield much comes from a single seed. A corn seed sprouts to grow into a corn stalk with several ears of corn and many seeds. A bean vine produces many bean pods. One tomato plant will yield an abundance of tomatoes; and plants, like cucumbers and squash, are really prolific. But to have this new fruit, the seed must first die in order to bring forth new life.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We must do the same. To accept God's gift of salvation through grace, we must accept Christ into our life, dying to our old self and being born anew in Him. This is what baptism symbolizes. Christ served as our sacrifice on the cross and died in our place that we might live a new life and have a close, intimate relationship with Holy God. Then when we die physically, we will live forever with our Lord.

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous (1 Peter 3:8).

But dying to self needs to follow us throughout our Christian life. Selfishness is what breaks up marriages, pulls people into crime, dirties politics, and is responsible for most of the ills of the world. We, humans, have a tendency to put ourselves first, to seek our own will and pleasures, and to think more highly of ourselves than anyone else. We like to think we deserve to be revered, have people cater to us, and get whatever we want. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We need to smother these selfish tendencies and die to self over and over again. The Holy Spirit is there to help us, but first, we must recognize the need.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF (Galatians 5:14).

_______________________________