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Subject: SJ: How Would You Like Your Seed? Author: Eugene [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 17:34:52 01/21/03 Tue John 12:24-26 “I tell you the truth, 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. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” This saying of the seed, of course, is the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice. It was well for Christ to be a seed of his own, for he in himself is perfect. But in his love, he chose not to be perfect by himself, but to give up his love for us, so that we may take part in his perfection. We too, have the seeds of Christ’s likeness deep within us, but our seeds are not in a good place at all. Our seeds are trapped, coated and imprisoned in a constantly growing crust of sins – a condition that separates us from the life-giving presence of God. Unless we break out of the crust, we will always remain seeds – a potential never to be realized. The Father makes us into good seeds. The Son comes and pierces through the crust that binds the seeds. The Holy Spirit enters in and gives us what we need to grow outwards in spite of the crust. Somehow, if we have failed to realize that this is what the Bible tells us about God, then we are in no shape to “preach the good news”. I know it is hard. I know that after a while, the seeds may get used to be limited, or even find their imprisonment comforting. Yes, there is a lot of pain and no freedom at all, but at least one knows exactly what to expect – to somebody security of predictable misery is much more desirable than the promising unknown. But…. Please do not abuse God’s word – the Scripture – and make straight jacket and padded cells out of this treasure of grace! [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]