Daily Devotions based the Sermon on John 12:20-32 from March 21, 2021
THIS WEEK: Lead Me to the Cross…Plant a Seed…Find the Cross!
Jesus is excited about what his work produces in us.
Yesterday we considered the fruit that happens when we die to this world and live in view of eternity. Jesus’ work changes our mind and perspective on the things of this world and makes them secondary to the things that matter for eternal life.
Today, the second fruit Jesus loves to see:
John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Remember this response was predicated on the request of the Greek followers to see Jesus. In essence, Jesus is letting them know they will see him when they see his followers serving him. Jesus is seen when his heart of service is exhibited in his followers.
But this doesn’t grow naturally in us. In fact, what grows naturally in the “weeds” of our heart is the desire to serve self. We are naturally “what’s in it for me” type of people. We have a hard time giving of our time and energy for another person unless there is some “win” in it for me.
So how do we get rid of this self-centered weed and produce the fruit Jesus desires of serving him and serving others?
We have to die to ourselves so we can live for Jesus.
The Apostle Peter understood this change as he wrote: 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Jesus died with our sins attached to him. This act on our behalf is like a spiritual “Round-up” chemical that kills sin “down to the root.” Jesus work doesn’t just change the outward behavior, but it changes the interior root. We can now die to sin and live for righteousness, live in the way that pleases the Lord and serves Jesus and others.
The Apostle Paul’s heart was changed by his encounter with Jesus. He realized his zealous persecution of the followers of Jesus in his first life as Saul was really a self-centered pride grab to augment his standing among his Pharisee peers. Jesus helped him see life completely differently. No longer was his life compelled by what he wanted for himself, but by what Jesus had done for him. When he realized the depth of Jesus’ love for him, he had no other choice but to dedicate his life to serving the one who gave his life for him.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Jesus loves to see the Spirit of God change the hearts of mankind. Jesus loves it when his work for you shows up in a compelling life lived in honor of Jesus and in service of others. Jesus loves it when the fruit he desires shows up in the lives of his followers. Jesus loves it when others see him in the lives transformed by him.
The glory of the Seed (our Savior Jesus) is truly in the fruit it produces (our lives changed by him!)!
Apply: What areas of your life are you living for yourself? What does it look like when your thinking and activity shift to serving the Lord rather than self? Ask the Lord for strength to overcome selfishness and replace it with a heart of service.
PRAYER: Lord, may my life always reflect the love and service you have shown to me. AMEN.