When I was young, I loved to ski. Every winter weekend I would look for opportunities to head to the mountains for a day. Sometimes it even meant driving hundreds of kilometers just to have a few hours on the slopes. Once or twice I even flew to another country to feed my obsession.
Then God called me to come live in the Middle East. I did not bring my skis with me, but I did bring my boots. However, it did not take me long to realize that I would not be doing much skiing in Israel. My love for skiing would have to be subjected to my obedience to God. One day I felt I should pray a prayer giving my skis to God. It seems that he gladly accepted them; he has never given them back.
We all know that our faith is based on the historical facts of Jesus' death and resurrection. But these are more than just events that happened a long time ago. They also embody a principle of God's kingdom: the principle of death and resurrection.
Some things in our lives simply need to die. They may belong to our old life; they may be things that hinder our growth. Like my skis, it might be something that steals the love that should belong to God alone. They may need to die and never come to life again.
There are other things in our lives that God will want to use, but we must first give them up to die and allow God to raise them to life when he has finished preparing us.
Jesus' parable tells us something of the process. The seed contains the potential for fruit, for multiplication. However, as long as it is in its original state, it "remains no more than a single grain." Only after it has been buried can God transform it into what it he really intended it to be. Only then can it really bear fruit for him.
That thing will be different for each of us. For me it was skiing and travelling around the world. For someone else it might be remaining in this land or finding a life partner or something else that is very dear to their heart. God always knows best. We must search our hearts honestly and give to him those things we love the most. Only then will he be able to give them new life and use them for his glory.
- 25 APRIL -