Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  John 12:23-24        

Glorified is defined as to be honored or praised in a very high manner. Interestingly, when Jesus speaks of his impending death on the cross, He describes it as being “glorified.” In stark contrast, we, Jesus’ followers; Christians; would not consider dying as being glorified. We would not consider any type of suffering as being honored. Actually, we think when we are “blessed” with money or material things that those things signify honor to us. However, Jesus, our only example of what our Christian walk should look like, says, I am about to be glorified because my death is going to produce life for many.

Therefore, when we say to the Lord, “God get the glory out of my life,” it is doubtful that we are truly aware of what we are saying. Because, according to Jesus’ example, in order for God to get the glory, some things in us may have to die. In order for us to produce, bringing forth fruits of righteousness, some things in our lives may have to cease. Jesus said it like this, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. I am also reminded of these words of an old hymn, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free, no there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.”

What is the cross that Jesus has told us we must take up? We should examine the areas of our lives that we know if it died the Lord would really be glorified in our lives. That area may be our mouths – we just talk too much about nothing. The Bible says we were redeemed from vain conversations. 1 Peter 1:18. Maybe we should consider fasting our words – let them be few, let them be kind, and let them be life producing. Proverbs 18:21. Perhaps we need to examine our egos – wanting to be great; attention seeking. Isaiah 42:8 states, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” What would an examination of our motives reveal – what we do, how we do, and why we do. If our motives are not pure, then they need to die because they are ego driven. Or, maybe, we simply need to die to our will and commit to His. Again, Jesus has set the pattern before us with His life. We need only to follow His lead – “not my will, but thine be done.” Luke 22:42.

Every branch in me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2