The Seed and the Harvest: The Process of Discipleship
Insights from Miles J. Stanford’s "The Green Letters: Principles of Spiritual Growth"
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
— John 12:24
Discipleship is often misunderstood as merely acquiring spiritual knowledge or maintaining Christian activity. But as Miles J. Stanford explains, the true essence of discipleship involves a profound process of death and resurrection within us—a gradual yielding of self so that the life of Christ may flourish.
A Parable of the Seed
Imagine a seed, high on the stalk, golden and shining in the sunlight. It appears complete, beautiful, and self-sufficient. Yet, as long as it clings to the stalk, it remains sterile. For the seed to fulfill its purpose, it must fall to the ground, be buried, and lose its outer shell. Only then does it release the life within, sprouting into something far greater—a bountiful harvest.
In the same way, we as believers often cling to our own strength, comfort, and ambitions. We may appear to others as polished and "complete," but until we surrender to the process of being planted, buried, and transformed, the life of Christ within us remains locked away.
The Process of Dying to the Self-life
Stanford highlights that the seed’s journey mirrors our own. At first, we may resist the idea of letting go—of allowing God to strip away all that is not of Him. Yet this is the very heart of discipleship:
The Fall – Like the seed dropping from the stalk, we must leave behind the comforts of self-reliance. This can feel like a free fall into the unknown.
The Burial – As the seed is buried, its hard shell begins to decay. Similarly, our pride, self-sufficiency, and old ways must be surrendered, allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us.
The New Life – What emerges is no longer the seed, but a sprout—new life born from death. The life of Christ shines through, bearing fruit for His glory.
This is not a one-time event but a continual process. Paul captures it well in 2 Corinthians 4:11–12: "For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you."
God’s Faithful Cultivation
The beauty of this process is that it is entirely in God’s hands. As the Divine Husbandman, He knows exactly how to cultivate us, using circumstances and relationships to soften the hard outer shell of self [flesh]. His goal is not to harm us but to bring forth the life of Christ within us—a harvest that glorifies Him and nourishes others.
A Prayer of Trust in the Process
Father,
Thank You for planting us where we are and for faithfully cultivating the life of Christ within us. We trust Your wisdom in allowing us to fall, to be buried, and to be transformed. Thank You for the life You bring forth in the dying, for the fruit that emerges for Your glory. We rest in Your perfect timing and care, knowing that You complete what You begin. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Final Thought
Discipleship is not about striving to become something greater but about surrendering to the One who has already made us His. Like the seed, we must fall and die to the self-life before we can truly live. And when we trust the process, we discover that what emerges is far more beautiful and fruitful than we could have ever imagined.