The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 March 2024 – Pay The Price
TOPIC: Pay The Price
READ: John 12:23-36 (NKJV)
- But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
- “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.
- “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him [My] Father will honor.
- ” Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
- “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, [saying,] “I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again.”
- Therefore the people who stood by and heard [it] said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
- Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
- “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
- “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all [peoples] to Myself.”
- This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
- The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how [can] You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
- Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
- “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
THE MESSAGE:
In today’s lesson, Jesus declared that surely His time to be glorified had come. However, He knew it would not come on a platter of gold but rather through death and the shedding of is blood.
This was what He explained using a parable that unless a corn of wheat fell to the ground and died, it would not yield more fruits. He was therefore preparing to pay the price to fulfil the purpose of God for this world. He proved to the world that He never loved His life more than His Father’s will. Earlier, He had taught that whoever loves his life will lose it and whoever hates it will gain it.
Gold will never show it brightness, beauty or attractiveness in its natural form unless it passed through a furnace of fire.
In the fire, it is purified and becomes attractive to men. For you to be fulfilled in life, you must pay a price and your life is the highest price to pay to gain eternal life. If you give yourself pleasure and every worldly satisfaction, you will certainly lose God’s grace and eternity. Don’t forget, Christ gave all, you must be ready to give your all to Him to live with Him forever.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to pay the price whatever it will cost me to reign with You, Amen.
