4月2日

標　　題： 死亡結出更多子粒

經　　節： 我實實在在地告訴你們，一粒麥子不落在地裡死了，仍舊是一粒，若是死了，就結出許多子粒來。（約翰福音十二章24節）

有些東西一定要先死去，才能結實。有些種子除非經過嚴寒冬季的冷凍，就不會發芽長成植物。耶穌知道自己的死亡，會為世人帶來救恩。

在成為基督徒的那一刻，你罪惡的天性死去（羅馬書六：6），然而，你性格上仍有許多方面不肯甘願進入墳塋。在你成為基督徒之前，你是否自我中心？你可能發現，自私在你的生命滯留不去，以致你不能奉基督的名，自由地分享自己所蒙受的恩典（馬太福音十：8）。你是否脾氣暴躁？現在你已經是信徒，你的憤怒有時仍然如泉源般由心中湧出。你在神國中苦幹，為要爭一席之地，或贏得人的賞識與認可，你發現自己的動機仍與屬世時沒有不同。

如果那些罪惡的態度仍舊活著，它們會扼殺聖靈的果子。你暴躁的脾氣會絆倒一些人認識耶穌。你的自私會妨礙你成為周圍人們的祝福。你的野心會使你利用其他人完成自己的目標。你的生命某些方面沒有讓耶穌治死，以至於你的家人在精神及肉體上正忍受痛苦。單單說：「唉！我就是這個樣子」，這是無益的。那是過去的你，但那個人已經與基督同釘十字架了，你現在是新造的人（哥林多後書五：17）。容許神在你身上完成祂的工作，並且看見自己的生命結出甚麼樣的果子。

Death Brings Much Fruit

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12:24)

Some things must die in order to be productive. Certain seeds will not germinate into a plant unless they freeze during the winter. Jesus knew that His death would bring salvation to the world.

The moment you became a Christian, your sinful nature died (Rom. 6:6), but there remained sinful aspects of your character that had not gone to their graves willingly. Before you became a Christian were you self-centered? You may discover selfishness lingering in your life when you ought to be freely sharing what you have in the name of Christ (Matt. 10:8). Did you have a volatile temper? Now as a believer, you experience moments when anger wells up within you. Were you driven by ambition? You may still find yourself with the same motivation as you strive for recognition and position in the kingdom of God.

If these sinful attitudes are allowed to remain alive, they will stifle the fruits of the Spirit. Your temper may prevent some from coming to Jesus. Your selfishness will hinder you from being a blessing to those around you. Your ambition could cause you to use others to meet your goals. Your family may be suffering because of some areas of your life that you have never allowed Jesus to put to death. It is futile to say, “But that’s just the way I am!” That is the way you were. But that person died with Christ; you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Allow God to complete His work in you and see what fruit your life produces.