- The word ‘odeishie’ is a Ghanaian slang used to depict resolve, hardness, and resilience in the face of difficulty.
- Today we’ll learn that sacrifices must be made and we’ll learn one way to do so. Why? Because sacrifice makes us fruitful! Let’s dig in:
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” (John 12:23-24).
- In the verses above, Jesus highlights to the disciples that sacrifice is the key to fruitfulness.
- Jesus explains the process of disintegration of a seed as the process of dying to self:
- This is a process most Christians have to experience (dying to self, being alone and isolated to be fruitful); yet many of us try to avoid it.
- Dear friend, there is a need for a seed to disintegrate in order for it to grow and develop into multiple yields.
- In the same way, God uses the dying process in His servants to eventually bring forth much fruit!
- Our unpleasant circumstances ultimately mould and develop our character so that we can be refined for His good works!
May the Holy Spirit guide us to find purpose in every unpleasant circumstance in our lives so that we can overcome and live in the fullness of our purpose! But how do we die to self? Let’s examine one way:
Choose Hard And Difficult Things Instead Of Nice And Easy Things
“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.” ~ John 12:27-28
- One way to die to self is by choosing hard and difficult things instead of nice and easy things.
- Most people choose nice and easy things. That is why most people are on the broad and easy way that leads to Hell (Matthew 7:13-14).
Like Jesus did, if we choose things that are hard and difficult instead of things that are nice and easy, we will move forward very rapidly in life.
- We always need to move forward so that we can be one step ahead of the enemy as children of God.
- Many of the things that will take us forward in life are hard and difficult to do. Yet, these are the most important things for us. Consider some hard and difficult things for a Christian:
- Prayer is one of these.
- Bible study is another.
- Fasting is an important habit that every Christian should cultivate.
- Giving is another…etc.
Yet these are things we all do not like doing. However, we must choose these ourselves and also lead others to do these very things. Yes, it is difficult for you, for me and it will be difficult for them. Yet we have to do it!
Seven Hard and Difficult Things We Must Learn From Jesus:
1. We must have a daily quiet time (Mark 1:35-37)
2. We must read the Bible every day (Matthew 4:4)
3. We must pray for at least an hour every day (Matthew 26:37-45)
4. We must fast regularly (Matthew 17:21; Matthew 4:1-2)
5. We must learn things that are new to us (Luke 2:46-47)
- In God’s kingdom, we can enter and be great only by being like a child. One characteristic of children is that they are constantly learning new things.
- If we want to do well and move ahead, we must learn new things that we are not naturally inclined to. It is doing some of these difficult things that will take us forward!
6. Educate yourself constantly by reading books. For a believer, books are a very spiritual thing! (Joshua 1:8, Revelations 10:8-11, Luke 4:16-17).
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
7. Humbly obey whatever God tells you to do (Philippians 2:8).
- Obeying God is one of the most vital keys to moving forward. I cannot explain the power that is released when we obey God.
- Jesus Christ achieved His purpose by humbly obeying God (Philippians 2:8). It was hard and difficult, but He did it!
- Wouldn’t it have been nice and easy for Jesus to stay in Heaven where He belonged? [I bet you and I would not consider such a thing].
- Dear friend, Jesus shrank at the thought of obeying God’s instructions, yet He composed Himself.
- Notice the words of Jesus as He pondered on the cross that lay before Him:
“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.” ~ John 12:27-28
- Jesus “odeishi-ed” Himself and resolved to go through with it. “I have to make this sacrifice!”
- Decide to be like Jesus – choose what is hard and difficult rather than what is nice and easy and we will find ourselves in a good place.
- Heyy… you’re blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved!
This post was adapted from teachings by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills.
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