November 29

“Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.” John 12:24

“If it die . . . ” What is this death? It is the cracking open of the shell by the working of temperature and humidity, so that the true life within the grain can express itself. It is all too possible for a Christian to have the Lord’s life in him and yet for that life to be confined and suppressed by the hard shell of nature. So we have the sad fact of a fruitless Christian. In this case it is not a matter of obtaining life, for that came at conversion, but of the release of that life so that it can grow and be fruitful.

If we wrap ourselves in our natural shell and resist Christ’s call to share his cross and be broken open, we will hinder the possibility of God-glorifying fruit. We may enjoy some inward blessing ourselves, but it is only when that inner life is dispersed around us that others can benefit from our lives.