What does that mean? August 10, 2017 Daily Reflection

Scriptures

In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. John 12:24-26

What does that mean? How confusing, aren’t we supposed to love, nurture, and appreciate life? Jesus was wonderful with shocking statements and parables. His point is not to literally “hate” your life. He wants us to appreciate life and all of our blessings. However, he doesn’t want life to come above loving others selflessly. Our number one priority should be God, to live and die for the good of others and the love of others. Once we learn that our lives are not about “self” and are truly there as an instrument of the glorification of God’s love on earth, everything will shift; attitudes, ideas, and lives. It’s easy in this life to think it’s all about me, my life, wealth, power, fame, and possessions. What’s difficult is to think that those things don’t matter. Our priority should be knowing, loving, and serving God through one another. If we fix our gaze on Jesus Christ and live as he lived then selfless love, dying to self, and a rich harvest of eternal love will follow.

That’s what I think it means.

Leave a Reply