“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12:24-26

Sometimes I forget that Jesus is almighty.

His words are not just words on a page. He is the Word. He is the Word that accomplishes its purpose. He is God.

He speaks through scripture; then confirms through nature. He listens to your prayer, then answers you through the mouth of a best friend. He dispenses grace upon grace that flows through specially timed conversations – ones that require a sensitive spirit to follow. And he beckons us to keep up.

Whoever serves Him must follow Him. Just as He only did what He saw the Father doing, now we are to do only what we see Him doing.

The question is – how can we see what He’s doing?

We can only see what He’s doing when we allow our agendas to die.

If we desperately told tightly to our grain of wheat, we’ll remain alone. But if we allow our measly manipulative motives to die, we have the promise of “much fruit” – fruit that can only come from abiding in Him, from working with Him.

He’s at work – and He invites us into it.

Think about this verse for a second: “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.”

Where is Jesus?

Sometimes He’s hiding in His room praying to the Father. Sometimes He’s out on the street, healing the sick. Sometimes he’s reclining at the table of the people who hate him.

Sometimes He’s receiving adoration and worship, allowing His feet to be kissed and drenched in a perfume with a fragrance that fills the home.

Sometimes He’s teaching.

Sometimes He’s rebuking.

Sometimes He’s prophesying.

Sometimes He’s crying.

Where is Jesus?

…or, maybe I should ask…where are you?

Have you died yet? Or are you still sadly clutching onto your stalk of grain?

Only when we die can we truly find the hand of Jesus. Only when we die can we live His life…with His eyes, His heart, His power, His compassion, His patience, His faith, His purpose, His wisdom, and His love.

Only when we die.