4月2日
标 题： 死亡结出更多子粒
经 节： 我实实在在地告诉你们，一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒，若是死了，就结出许多子粒来。（约翰福音十二章24节）
有些东西一定要先死去，才能结实。有些种子除非经过严寒冬季的冷冻，就不会发芽长成植物。耶稣知道自己的死亡，会为世人带来救恩。
在成为基督徒的那一刻，你罪恶的天性死去（罗马书六：6），然而，你性格上仍有许多方面不肯甘愿进入坟茔。在你成为基督徒之前，你是否自我中心？你可能发现，自私在你的生命滞留不去，以致你不能奉基督的名，自由地分享自己所蒙受的恩典（马太福音十：8）。你是否脾气暴躁？现在你已经是信徒，你的愤怒有时仍然如泉源般由心中涌出。你在神国中苦干，为要争一席之地，或赢得人的赏识与认可，你发现自己的动机仍与属世时没有不同。
如果那些罪恶的态度仍旧活着，它们会扼杀圣灵的果子。你暴躁的脾气会绊倒一些人认识耶稣。你的自私会妨碍你成为周围人们的祝福。你的野心会使你利用其他人完成自己的目标。你的生命某些方面没有让耶稣治死，以至于你的家人在精神及肉体上正忍受痛苦。单单说：“唉！我就是这个样子”，这是无益的。那是过去的你，但那个人已经与基督同钉十字架了，你现在是新造的人（哥林多后书五：17）。容许神在你身上完成祂的工作，并且看见自己的生命结出什么样的果子。
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.
