If a grain of wheat dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24). Let's look into how we can become like a grain of wheat that dies and bears much fruit.


Your 'Self' Must Die

Your 'self', that is, your 'ego' has been formed of knowledge and culture that you have seen, heard, and experienced from your parents, teachers, friends, and neighbors since the moment of your birth. But most of the knowledge that has formed the "self' belongs to untruth. Thus, you should admit that what you have thought right could be wrong and cultivate truth by the Word of God in your heart.

If you find your thoughts and speculation against the truth, you must admit you are wrong and transform yourself by the truth. By doing so, you begin to put to death your 'ego' (Romans 8:13). Remember untruths in your heart are not cast away by cursory repentance. You should pray fervently to receive strength to cast them off. Then, you can burn them by the baptism of fire of the Holy Spirit.

As you try to put your 'self' to death and fight against sin to the point of shedding blood (Hebrews 12:4), God will bless you to become spiritually strong and bold. To the extent that your 'ego' dies, you will prosper in all respects and be in good health because your soul prospers.

In order to gain such spiritual fruit, the flesh in you should die (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).


Dying at Home

To evangelize other family members, you should preach the gospel with the evidence of the living God. First of all, you should earn their trust to evangelize them, and you can gain their trust by dying at home.

Ephesians 4:22 says, "That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit." Here, 'your former manner of life' refers to ungodly habits you had when you were in your "old self" before you met God.

For instance, some of you may often get angry and beat other family members. Some children do not clean their room because the mother always does. Some others tell their parents they are so busy that they can't make their beds and can't put their clothes back in the closet.

But if this "former manner of life" disappears, your family will be the first to notice your change. To the extent that you cast off your evident former manner of life, your "self" can be put to death at home, and you can earn the trust of your family. In a home of faith, the family can be even happier when each member looks back on themselves for everything without attributing it to others and puts their former self to death in the truth.


Dying in Church

Spiritually, your church members are closer to you than your family members, for they are brothers and sisters in Christ and will live with you in Heaven forever.

But if your 'self' is alive, when you notice a brother's faults, you may point them out in your self-righteousness and even tell others about them. Moreover, if you suffer loss because of him, you may not just stand it. However, if you think about the love of the Lord who forgave you of your sins, you should follow His example.

Through 'peace', you can check how much you have become 'a grain of wheat that dies' in church. It is difficult for people who insist on their self-righteousness and self-framework to have peace with others. Only when you lower yourself and serve others with love and virtuous generosity can you be at peace with all people.

Suppose you have peace with those who serve and obey you but you do not have peace with those who don't. You cannot say you have pursued peace in a true sense.

God wants us to have peace with everyone. We should seek peace in obedience and service to our superiors or co-workers. We should have peace in all aspects. It is because God blesses peacemakers to bear fruit (James 3:18; 1 Corinthians 14:33).


Dying for the Kingdom of God

Souls' salvation is the most important in accomplishing God's kingdom. Jesus was crucified to save countless people who were going the way of death due to sins. So, we should preach the gospel at every corner of the earth as the Lord's witnesses to lead many people to the way of salvation and accomplish God's kingdom.

When we give out light through our good deeds, people will seek God. When the Lord's workers diligently take care of the souls, the kingdom of God will increase.

If a believer truly feels the love of the Lord, he finds it not difficult to preach the gospel or look after the souls. And a faithful worker voluntarily gives whatever he has to do his God-give duties. This is how you can 'die' for the kingdom of God (Romans 8:17).

If we lose our 'self' by putting it to death at home, in church, and for His kingdom, God will surely let us bear much fruit.