Latest / The Daily Word / August 10 – One Seed Produces Many
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good morning, Lakeshore friends and family. Welcome to the Daily Word podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and along with my wife Yolanda, I have the privilege of serving as the campus pastor at Lakeshore Gastonia. Thank you for taking a few minutes to invest some time with me today in God's Word. Whether you're listening on your morning commute, enjoying a cup of coffee, or beginning your day with the Lord. My prayer is that this time encourages you and draws you closer to Jesus. Just as a reminder, each day as a church, we are reading through the Bible together using the life journal reading plan. And today we'll focus on the New Testament passage. And one of the things I've learned over the years is that God often speaks in the quiet moments when we simply slow down and listen. That's why I like to keep my time with him simple. A Bible, a journal, a pen, and a heart that's ready to hear. As we read, just as a reminder, we're using the SOAP method. Soap. It stands for scripture, observation, application, and prayer. In other words, what's the scripture that really stood out to me? What did I observe? What did God show me here? How does it apply to my life? And what's a prayer? This is a simple framework that I've been using, we've been using for many years. It's a great tool to help you not only read your Bible, but to really capture something deep in your heart. So before we begin, let's invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us before we read. Come on, would you just agree with me in prayer? If you're driving, come on, don't close your eyes. Father, thank you for this new day and for the privilege of opening your word. Quiet the distractions around us and the noise within us. Give us hearts that are teachable, minds that are attentive, and lives that are ready to obey whatever you reveal. Holy Spirit, illuminate the scriptures and help us not only understand them, but help us to live them out today. We ask this in Jesus' name. Everybody said, Come on. Amen. Well, friends, today's passage for August 10th is John chapter 12, the Gospel of John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John chapter 12. And I journaled from verses 23 through 25. These are Jesus' words. I want to read them to you from the NIV version today. Listen as I read. Jesus said, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you. Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Powerful scriptures. The title of my journal entry is simply this You ready? One seed produces many. Say it with me. Come on. One seed produces many. I want to share with you my observation and my application kind of all together. This is what I wrote down. Jesus is the single seed. When he spoke these words, he was describing what was about to happen through his sacrificial death. The cross would look like the end of his life, but would actually become the means through which his life. Would be multiplied. A single seed would fall into the ground, die, and produce many more seeds. Jesus was talking about himself. His death was necessary for the life that would come from him. Through his death and resurrection, countless people would receive new life and become children of God. But as I thought about this passage, I realized the picture doesn't stop with Jesus dies. People get saved. There's something more to the seed principle. A seed doesn't simply produce life, it produces life that can multiply. Let me say that again. It produces life that can multiply. Jesus is the source. We don't become another source of salvation. There's only one Savior, one seed, one source of eternal life, Jesus Christ. But what Jesus produces in us is intended to reproduce through us. Notice what Jesus says immediately after the seed illustration. He who loves his life will lose it. If anyone serves me, let him follow me. That's verses 25 and 26. That's significant. Jesus moves from his death to our surrender, from his life given to To our lives surrendered, from his sacrifice to our following and serving. The principle of the seed begins with Jesus, but it doesn't end with us receiving what he's done. His life is meant to bear fruit through our lives. This helps me see discipleship differently. Jesus didn't simply die so that I could be saved and remained. The end of the process. He saved me so that his life could be lived through me. He called me to follow him, serve him, bear fruit, and help others follow him too. Jesus later said in John 15:16, I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. You see, the imagery changes from grain to fruit. But the principle remains. Jesus is the source of life. I receive that life. His life produces fruit in me. And that fruit is meant to affect the lives of others. This is why the Great Commission is bigger than simply getting people saved. Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, Matthew 28:19. You see there the gospel is proclaimed, people believe. They receive new life in Christ, they become disciples. Those disciples learn to follow Jesus, obey his commands, and help others follow him too. The life keeps moving. Can you see the progression? Jesus dies and rises. The gospel is proclaimed. People receive new life. New believers become disciples. Disciples make disciples. More people receive life. One seed. Produces many. That makes me ask a very searching question. Am I merely a recipient of the seed, or am I becoming a root reproducing disciple? Let me say it again. Am I merely a recipient of the seed, or am I becoming a root reproducing disciple? Have I received the life of Christ without ever allowing that life to reproduce through me? A seed that never produces anything may look alive, but it isn't fulfilling its purpose. In the same way, God's desire isn't simply that I receive his life, he wants his life to become fruitful through mine. Paul understood this principle. Think about 2 Timothy 2, verse 2. He told Timothy, the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses. Commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You see the progression? Paul to Timothy, Timothy to faithful people, from faithful people to others. The life and truth Paul received were never intended to stop with Paul. They were meant to be passed on. So perhaps the question isn't simply, Am I following Jesus? Perhaps I should also ask. Who is becoming more like Jesus because I am following Jesus? Who am I investing in? Who am I discipling? Who am I helping understand the word? Who am I encouraging to obey Christ? Who will be stronger in their faith because I intentionally poured my life into theirs? Friends, Jesus is the single seed. He gave his life so that we could have life. And now he calls us to follow him. To surrender our lives, serve others, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and allow the life He's placed in us to reproduce through us. The gospel doesn't stop when someone receives life. The life they receive is meant to reproduce itself through them. That is the wonder of the seed. One seed produces many. Friends, I hope that encouraged you. Would you pray with me as we close? Father, thank you for speaking to us today through your word. Thank you for reminding us that the life of Jesus was never meant to stop with me. It was never meant to stop with us, but to multiply through us. Holy Spirit, give us a fresh fire to follow Jesus, not only placing our faith in Him, but partnering with Him to take the life changing gospel to others. And make disciples who can make disciples. Today, Lord, I choose to let your life multiply through me. Use me to point others to you and help them follow you like me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Lake Shore family. Until next time, God bless you. Have a great day.