Except a Corn of Wheat Fall into the Ground and Die (John 12:24)

2022-01-27

Spiritual growth comes by death. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). It is God’s pattern for life and growth. Jesus died and rose again; His death brought us life.

If you measure spiritual growth by how much of the warm and fuzzies you get, you are horribly wrong. Spiritual growth and personal holiness are not whether you get the shivers during a sermon. It is picking up your cross daily, identifying with Christ’s death daily, for decades. This means that though you already have been crucified with Christ positionally, you daily declare it to be so.

You say that you believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, but your heart reveals something else. It is often decades of seeing repeated failure in your life when it starts to click, because you trusted in yourself instead of Christ.

Spiritual growth is painfully slow. There are no shortcuts or magic wands. It is decades in the making. If you think that some religious experience is going to make you magically wiser instantly and not struggle with sin, you will be woefully disappointed.

Be patient. It won’t be until that Day when we will be complete and mature. “...he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).