“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).
Here the Lord speaks of His death and His victory over death. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground
and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:34). Now this is a simple and
wonderful truth, which does not require any education or Bible knowledge to understand. All of us have
seen the grain of wheat dying and bringing forth much fruit. One grain of wheat with good soil and water
can produce about 5000 grains. Again if you sow these grains the next year and go on sowing what is
produced for five years, you will have a whole long goods train full of grain. The Lord Jesus Christ is that
grain of wheat. He died to bring many sons into His heavenly glory, and to fill the whole heaven with those
sons. All that power was realized for you and for me, when He died and was buried, and rose again.
If a grain of wheat has so much power in it, how much more the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. No man
could touch Him. When they came to Him in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:4,6,7), our Lord said
“Whom seek ye?” They replied, “Jesus of Nazareth”. And He said, “I am he.” As soon as they heard that,
they went backward and fell down. They were afraid to touch Him. He gave Himself up, that we may be
more than conquerors. He did not die as a martyr. He gave Himself up to bring into us the highest power
in the whole universe and that power is now being offered to you. Has that power come into you? Does
it work in you? Are you being raised higher and higher with the same power every day? Do you find
yourself rejoicing in suffering, persecutions, trials and poverty? Weeping Christians have no right to be
called Christians. God’s Word says: “…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Roman.
8:9). Again, “whosoever believeth in him… have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God has promised these
sevenfold tribulations, temptations, trials, famines, sword, suffering and persecution, to show in us His
power and victory that while others start crying and weeping, we can be more than conquerors.

Recent Devotions

• Body of Christ | January 21
• Our true wisdom
• Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• This is the altar
• Who are you?

Jan 13

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

—Psalm 39:7

The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep. That is peace—to be able to sleep in the storm! In Christ, we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusion, bewilderments, and perplexities of life. The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace—at last!

Jan 12

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

—2 Corinthians 12:9

God is especially close to us when we are lying on a sickbed. God will make the bed soft and will freshen it with His presence and with His tender care. He makes the bed comfortable and wipes away our tears. He ministers to us with special tenderness at such a time and reveals His great love for us. Tell me why the gardener trims and prunes his rosebushes, sometimes cutting away productive branches, and I will tell you why God’s people are afflicted. God’s hand never slips. He never makes a mistake. His every move is for our own good and for our ultimate good. Oftentimes He must deform us and mutilate our own image. Deformity sometimes precedes conformity.

Recent Devotions

• Body of Christ | January 21
• Our true wisdom
• Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• This is the altar
• Who are you?

“In thy presence is fullness of joy” (Psa. 16:11).
Because the joy that we receive at New Birth is not an earthly joy, but the joy of the Lord
Himself, it must multiply and become stronger, richer and fuller throughout eternity. Moreover
it is not a selfish joy. It is a joy that is shared by many people upon this earth and in heavenly
places — by all those in fact that have come or are now coming into the same experience of
New Birth. Earthly joys cannot be shared like this. But this joy is a heavenly joy which it is
our privilege to seek to introduce to, and share with, many others on earth.
What was it that enabled David to rejoice with great joy, and how was he also able to make
others rejoice with him? There were these several occasions in his life, each one of which
makes a point of progress in his own knowledge of the joy of the Lord, which was his strength.

Recent Devotions

• Body of Christ | January 21
• Our true wisdom
• Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• This is the altar
• Who are you?