“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
There is so much that we can learn from John the Baptist’s statement.
John understood that it is dangerous to call attention to ourselves. Why is it dangerous to bring attention to ourselves?
It is dangerous for two reasons:
1. When we make our lives about us we fail to make our lives about Jesus.
2. When we make our lives about us we spend our time making sure that others see our awesomeness, not the awesomeness of Jesus.
Pride stunts our spiritual growth and taints our witness. Pride is when we are overly satisfied with our own achievements. Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.”
Living a life of humility isn’t living with a sense of self-loathing but with a recognition that everything we have, everything that we are, and every strength that we have comes from God and should be used for the glory of God. John the Baptist understood this truth. We must decrease and Jesus must increase. We must deny ourselves and take up our crosses everyday (Matthew 16:24).
Our lives need more of Jesus, not more of us.
Our families need more of Jesus, not more of us.
Our communities need more of Jesus, not more of us.
Our social media feeds need more of Jesus, not more of us.
Live It:
- How must Jesus increase in your life?
Christ Chronological: John 3:22-36
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Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
