God is Not a Taker, But a Giver

Date: September 10, 2024

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

B - Bible Verse in NIV (John 12:24-25) 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.

L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Heavenly Father, help us understand the depth of what it means to surrender our lives to You. Give us the courage to let go of our selfish desires and ambitions, trusting that as we die to ourselves, You will bring forth new life and fruitfulness. May we value eternal things above temporary pleasures. In Jesus' name, Amen.

E - Explore the History and meaning Jesus spoke these words shortly before His crucifixion, preparing His disciples for His death and the sacrificial nature of following Him. He uses the metaphor of a seed to illustrate the principle of sacrifice leading to multiplication. This passage emphasizes the paradoxical nature of the Christian life – that true life and fruitfulness come through dying to self.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases

"Kernel of wheat... dies" - Symbolizes sacrifice and surrender

"Produces many seeds" - Represents fruitfulness and multiplication

"Loves their life will lose it" - Warns against self-centeredness and holding onto worldly life

S - Summarize and Share (Surrendered Hearts theme) Oh, my dear friends, these words of Jesus really get to the heart of what it means to live with a surrendered heart, don't they? It's a challenging message, but one that's filled with hope and promise.

You know, when Jesus talks about a kernel of wheat falling to the ground and dying, He's giving us a beautiful picture of surrender. Think about it – that little seed has to let go of everything it is to become something new and fruitful. It's not an easy process, but it's the only way for that seed to fulfill its purpose.

In the same way, Jesus is inviting us to surrender our lives to Him. Now, this doesn't mean we have to go looking for suffering or literally die. What it means is that we're called to let go of our self-centered desires, our need for control, our worldly ambitions – all those things that we think make up our life.

It's like Jesus is saying, "If you try to hold onto your life too tightly, you'll end up losing what really matters. But if you're willing to loosen your grip, to surrender your heart to Me, you'll find a life that's richer and more fulfilling than you could have imagined."

This kind of surrender isn't a one-time thing. It's a daily choice to say, "Lord, not my will, but Yours be done." It's choosing to trust God's plan even when it doesn't make sense to us. It's being willing to let go of our own ideas of success or happiness to embrace God's definition of a life well-lived.

And here's the beautiful part – when we surrender our hearts to God, He doesn't leave us empty-handed. Just like that seed that dies and produces many more seeds, our surrender leads to fruitfulness. We might see it in the lives we touch, the love we share, or the ways God uses us to bring His kingdom on earth.

Living with a surrendered heart means we value eternal things more than temporary pleasures. It means we're willing to look a little odd to the world because we're living for a different kingdom. It means we trust that God's plan for our lives is better than anything we could come up with on our own.

So today, let's ask ourselves: What areas of our lives are we still holding onto too tightly? What might God be asking us to surrender? It might be a relationship, a dream, a fear, or a habit. Whatever it is, let's bring it before the Lord and ask for the courage to let it go, trusting that as we do, He will bring forth new life and fruitfulness.

Remember, dear ones, our God is not a taker, but a giver. When we surrender our hearts to Him, He gives us something far greater in return – a life filled with purpose, joy, and eternal significance.

3 Bible Cross References:

Galatians 2:20

Matthew 16:25

Philippians 1:21

Question for the audience: What's one area of your life that you find hard to surrender to God? Share just a word or short phrase in the comments. Let's encourage each other as we learn to live with surrendered hearts!