-May 10, 2024-
Good morning beloved, happy Friday,
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
(John 3:30).
Today’s short verse is powerful, challenging, and encouraging. The Christian life is all about Christ, not about self. This is how John the Baptist lived his life. He pointed people to Jesus.
John is a perfect example of how we should decrease and Christ should increase. When the Pharisees asked who he was, he told them clearly that he was not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet. He simply replied, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: make straight the way of the Lord” as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John knew his role, his place in the kingdom of God. He preached a message of repentance, pointing people to Jesus. He proclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)!
He Must Increase – Our ultimate desire should be that Christ would increase in our lives. That means living every moment under His control, exalting His name, pointing people to Him.
Bill MacDonald in his Believer’s Bible commentary wrote, “The entire object of John’s ministry is summarized in this verse. He labored ceaselessly to point men and women to the Lord, and to make them realize His worth.”
I Must Decrease – The attention should not be on the messenger but on the message. The servant of the Lord must keep himself or herself in the background, hidden behind the cross. The more we decrease, the more Christ can increase and be glorified in our lives.
We are imperfect, Christ is perfect. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. We can do nothing in and of ourselves, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are unworthy sinners, saved by grace, made righteous and holy through the blood of Christ.
Let us make it our prayer, our desire today, that Christ would increase and we would decrease. May we point people to Jesus Christ our Savior. He alone can save them and help them. Oh, to think more about Jesus and His kingdom, and less about ourselves and the things of this world. Stay safe and healthy.
Lift up high the name and cause of Christ today, and live for Him in every way.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 