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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12

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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at Jesus's words as the hour approached for Him to be crucified. John Piper, in stark terms, lays out how, if we take Jesus's words to heart, we should not be bothered or concerned about our earthly circumstances.  He writes:

"If men speak well of you, it doesn’t matter much.
If they hate you, it doesn’t matter much.
If you have a lot of things, it doesn’t matter much.
If you have little, it doesn’t matter much.
If you are persecuted or lied about, it doesn’t matter much.
If you are famous or unheard of, it doesn’t matter much.
If you have died with Christ, these things just don’t matter much."

Piper uses the grain of wheat analogy to illustrate how it falls to the ground yet produces fruit to have us understand how our own death as believers leads to eternal life with Christ - bearing fruit a human mind can only begin to fathom.  We are urged to read v26 as well as Jesus exhorts us to "follow him" and of course this means all the way to the end - to the cross and to death.  The devotion wraps with Piper moving to Acts 20:24 and how Paul writes:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

Piper calls this "radical commitment to ministry" and he urges believers to share in this commitment as Paul and Jesus did.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who went to the cross for me - so that I could have forgiveness of sins, fullness of life in Christ now and for eternity - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:25

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Joseph: Shaky Limbs and Unanswered Questions*".

*Title of lesson six from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day two starts with Max Lucado sharing how Joseph led a just life (Matthew 1:19) and how if he was faithful to the law, he should have followed Deuteronomy 22:13-21 if there was a dispute regarding Mary's faithfulness.  Lucado speculates how Joseph must have struggled with how to preserve his reputation vs follow God.  We know that God reassures Joseph (see my post yesterday).  Joseph did as the Lord commanded and was willing to submit to Him.  Lucado points to how Joseph saw the circumstances as a "good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). Lucado then turns to Joseph's humility and how he did not even speak in the Bible yet God used him in supernatural ways as the earthly father to our Lord and Savior - Lucado points to Matthew 16:25 as encouragement for those willing to submit to God. We are then encouraged to read scripture where it is likely people doubted Jesus' authority and power based on his origins and humble upbringing as the son of a lowly carpenter. See Matthew 13:53-56, Mark 6:1-3, Luke 4:16-22, and John 6:41-21.  God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and supernatural.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:8-9

Discuss and comment on this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing in all ways - I have seen how You have used the ordinary to do extraordinary things - in my life and in the lives of others.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve. Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not deserving - I am often harsh with others and I have other sins. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Your Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited[.]

Acts 19

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited[.]

While Paul was in Ephesus, a riot broke out among those craftsmen who benefited from trade in idols (v23-28).  The essence of the beef with Paul and the Way (v1) is that we lose when we follow Jesus.  All of us, in some form or fashion resist submission to Jesus because of this concern.  Yet we must recognize that all of what we have comes from God - He is the source of everything - all of our life and sustenance.  We must also recognize that, although we lose our life as we know it when we follow Jesus, we gain far more than what we lose. 

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 1 Chronicles 29:14-16

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with life and everything that I experience - thank You God!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  Thank You - yet I must acknowledge that I am undeserving.  I sin daily and often - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

John 11

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” v47-48

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (v44), some of those who witnessed this miracle told the Pharisees, and then a meeting was called of the Sanhedrin (v47).  Their chief concern was their own status, position, and power.

We should not be concerned about losing our life - in both figurative and literal senses.  

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it." Luke 17:33

 

Instead we are to deny oneself. 

We are encouraged by Paul who writes about the "surpassing worth of knowing Jesus".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me both eternal life and an abundant life here on earth - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry and I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin to encourage, support and hold them accountable in their walk with Christ.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.