As the reality that His ministry must give way to the emerging work of Jesus set in, John the Baptist posited a profound truth that still challenges the most protected egos and the self-absorbed tendencies of each of us. “He must increase but I must decrease.”
It seems to me that we have been shamed, educated, manipulated, or possibly even convicted of the Spirit enough to lay down our insistence on public acclaim, growing notoriety, and glowing reviews. We know enough to at least act in a way that appears that we are ducking the tendency to upstage Jesus and His glory when it comes to our accomplishments. But, just as we begin to think we can boast of our victory over self-exaltation, the Holy Spirit points out how subtly deceptive our hearts really are.
While we are willing to let go of the public applause and give way to praise directed toward God, still we tend to coddle, magnify, parade and display our troubles, frustrations, disappointments and failures. It is as if we must have the spotlight, even if what is being viewed by others does not shed positive light on us. At least we are the focal point.
Yet God is so much greater than any human frailty, weakness, or struggle. We must exalt and point to Him, not our problems. He must increase and we must decrease.
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I just posted this on my Facebook. Expect your hits to multiply live fish and bread.
ReplyDeletelike* fish and bread...my mistake.
ReplyDeleteDear Pastor
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your devotion on John the Baptist today. The only thought that comes to my mind about him is he must have been a very lonely man. He lived in the wilderness,wore camel's hair with a belt tied around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey every day for breakfast.Then he goes even further and tells us to 'decrease'. Is this what God has in mind for us? To be lonely? Maybe if we stayed alone more we would be closer to the LORD. Maybe? I don't know. (Mark 1:6)
Bob Evans
Bob, Interseting thought. While I am not sure God intends for us to all be called to "alone-ness", (he did say that we were created for relationship-'it is not good that a man should be alone') surely there is a place for us to get alone with Him on a regular basis. Being still before Him is incredibly important. Only then can "the things of the earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace." That's when we decrease. KH
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pastor, for the comeback. Good advice for sure!
ReplyDeleteI'm also praying over your new blog message. I all ready have a question... about the donkey. More later...
Bob Evans
To: 'oldmannewspaper'
ReplyDeleteGreetings! I take it you are with a newspaper somewhere. Maybe our own Star Press. It's a very important business. So... if you happen to be as 'old' as I am, your doing alright, if your that old! I attend the 11 AM service. I am looking forward to meeting you some day. I hope more from GT will get in here to take about the LORD. The pastor always has a nice devotional thought to start us off. God be with you!
Bob Evans :->