Topic: THE POWER OF SACRIFICE – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 3 March 2020 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]

THE POWER OF SACRIFICE

“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

John 12:23-24 KJV

Beloved, it is very important that you pay close attention to what you listen to as it can either establish or misdirect you. When the chips are down, it is what you have inside that would sustain you. Be careful about the things you listen to because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Be very careful where you go and be mindful of who speaks into your life.

In our text, you will see that Jesus was speaking concerning His impending death on the cross, yet He referred to it as an hour that the Son of man should be glorified. Jesus knew He was going to die on the cross. For Him, it was not a grieving moment but a moment of glory. He also said that much fruit can only be produced by a corn of wheat when it falls to the ground and dies. In other words, there are certain dimensions of glory and fruitfulness that you cannot function in if you do not embrace sacrifice.

Jesus was saying that it looks like you are a loser when you are living a life of sacrifice. In the eyes of the world, you are a loser but that is when you are really a winner. If the princes of this world had “…known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1Corinthians 2:8 KJV). As far as they were concerned, when they crucified Him, they thought that was the end to God’s agenda for humanity. They were so excited about it, to the point that they even had to secure the tomb. For them, it was the end but, that was the beginning.

It doesn’t matter how low you have gone; that is not your last. That is the beginning! Your story will not end in disgrace!

Further Reading: John12:23-26, Roman 12:1

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Numbers 23-25; Evening- Mark 7:14-37