Devotionals for the Heart: When living for God requires you to be broken

Only Broken Seeds Grow
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.”

–1 Corinthians 15:36 (NIV) 

Nothing can grow, flourish, or bring forth fruit and beauty unless death has first occurred.

Once a seed has been planted, it must break open. The seed must die in order to fulfill its purpose. It must submit to be broken before a sapling can emerge.

The acorn is a wonderfully useful little seed that can provide food for little forest critters. But an oak tree—emerging from an acorn buried in the ground—is one of God’s magnificent creations. An oak tree is capable of not only feeding countless animals, but also provides shelter. The acorn must submit to what its ultimate purpose is—reproduction.

This truth of life through death is a spiritual truth as well as an agricultural truth. Christ bore the cross and died so that we might be born again—that we might have new life, eternal life. Romans 6:4 (KJV) states, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Jesus Christ died a common criminal’s death upon the cross.

Christ’s ministry on Earth only lasted three years. He only had twelve disciples, and He did not travel far from His hometown. To some, Christ may have appeared insignificant, but when He submitted to the Father to be broken and buried, big things happened! Christ rose from the grave and death only three days later in victory, bringing those who believed on Him newness of life.

But submitting to the cross does not end with Christ. Matthew 16:24 (KJV) states, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Christ is calling us to death. Only a true follower will ‘deny himself, and take up his cross’. This moment in the Christian’s life is pivotal.

What does it look like to deny ourselves? How can we take up our cross and follow Jesus? The answer to these questions looks different for every believer, but maybe it would make it simpler if I asked you different questions. Such as: What do you run to when you are feeling bored, disappointed, and in need of a break? What are your goals for the future? What is that one thing that you would be absolutely devastated if you lost? Maybe this can help you narrow where we find pleasure and safety. These things are often not ‘bad’ things, but if they take the place of Christ, He is asking you to lay them down at His feet.

It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We wonder how we could possibly let go of the things that can make us happy. Will we really feel full and complete if we hand everything over to God? I think the apostle Paul answered this question best in Philippians 1:21(KJV), “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul found life when laying down his own plans and agendas.

I cannot tell you exactly what will happen when you deny whatever it is you are desperately holding on to instead of Christ. All I can tell you is that God is true to His Word. God will come through for you. You will not truly live your life until you submit fully to Christ. A life apart from Christ—a life doing things our own way—is not really life at all. We are just a little seed, full of potential, but not willing to deny ourselves to be greatly used of God.

Deny Yourself. Take up your cross. Submit to be buried and broken. Cling to Christ. Remember, dear reader, only broken seeds grow.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for the Cross and Your sacrifice so that we might have life more abundantly. Please give us the courage to deny ourselves and cling only to You in times of need. Lead us to fulfill Your ultimate purpose for our lives. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Crucified with Christ” by Phillips, Craig and Dean. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois to Christian parents and has known Jesus personally since the age of five.

She is currently attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

God’s dream of Tessa becoming a writer was revealed to her at the age of sixteen and she hasn’t been able to stop since. Though she has not yet been published, Tessa enjoys writing historical romance novels and speculative fiction.

Tessa believes God loves stories, and through her writing, she wants to reveal the happily ever after God dreams of for each of his daughters—one where Jesus is the knight in shining armor.

Tessa loves all things Georgian/Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size. When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, Tessa can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the mixing bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

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Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101227159