A Grain of Wheat

As I prepare for class this morning, I have been meditating on Ian Thomas’ sermon titled “A Grain of Wheat.” Today we will be talking about living in such away that we don’t clutter our life with so much complexity that we are only able to give a small percentage of our resources (time, money, thoughts) to the ministry God has given us. In the video, I love how Ian Thomas compares Jesus’ life to a grain of wheat.

“Jesus could have gone back to heaven and left us with nothing but an example of a beautiful life that could only mock us in our attempt to imitate him as the law can only mock us in our attempt to fulfill its demands.

“But if it dies,” said the Lord Jesus, “If I am prepared on your behalf to forfeit that life that man lost in Adam, and allow My Father in resurrection, to restore that life to me, that life, released through my death in resurrection, will be shared with you.”

He died that we might be forgiven. But He lives to restore to us that life for which man was made. But you see, there is not only a cross for Him, but a cross for you and a cross for me. Unless we are prepared to die to what we are we will never ever become what we were intended to be. But that life that is yours now, by virtue of who He is, living where He does, in your heart, is a life that is to be released through death! So that life, His life, might be released in resurrection and shared with others.”

So the question I will be challenging the students today is, “How can we order our lives in such a way that all that Christ is can be released through our lives and shared with those we minister to?” What are the things in my life that are going to distract me from becoming what God intends for my life. What will be a distraction from others seeing Jesus in me? And how can I order my life so that the resurrected life of Jesus can produce the most fruit through my life?

You can listen to Ian Thomas’ full message here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGQ_3i5KbNY), if you are interested.