“Jesus answered, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also…
“’Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name… And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself…’
“Many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
“And Jesus cried out.., ‘I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.'” John 12:23-28,32,42-44,46
Jesus, the Author of life, came from heaven to live to the full, fulfilling His heavenly purpose. He walked and taught among men whose ties were solely to this earth, who could not grasp a more significant accountability or higher hope. By word and example, Christ Jesus enlightened their thinking in attempt to untether them from this world and raise their desire for the next. By His death and resurrection, He opened the door to it.
The Lord Jesus came that we may have abundant life, and often in the flesh, we limit abundance to earthbound concepts. He gives fullness of life here so we’ll invest for heaven. To spend ourselves only for things here below and the glory of man leads to emptiness, where working for crowns that last and can one day be laid at Jesus’s feet, living for His sake and glory, leads to everlasting fulfillment and joy. What do we choose? Our sticking points are captivation with things of earth and thinking with the mind of man instead of God. It’s important to understand why we think and decide as we do, whom we serve, and where we amass treasure. (John 10:10; 1 John 2:15-17)
We make everyday choices based on the filters we use. When we undergo honest assessment about our motivations and priorities, we recognize an earthly mindset that values earth over heaven, transient life and treasures in the lowlands over eternal life and treasure in glory. Only by the Spirit can we reset, redirecting loves and focus. He convicts of disordered loves, and inspires redirection of mind and affection. He enables us to take thoughts captive to Christ, renew our minds and set them above, and frees us from self to love Him most. (Matthew 6:19-21; 22:37; Mark 8:33; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Colossians 3:1-2)
Do we love this life the Lord has given? Is this gift cherished because of temporary pleasures it affords, or the opportunities and experiences to know Christ? How will we be more heavenly-minded and earthly good, so we can lift others to the hope of heaven?
Father, help me die to things of the world and love You above all. (Galatians 2:20)
As the rain and snow 