Today's Bible Reading: JOHN 3:1-4:45; LUKE 3:19-20
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease
This is the essence of our spiritual pilgrimage. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. His task was to prepare the way for Jesus and point the people to Jesus. His ministry was to funnel followers to Jesus. As his roll diminished Jesus’ increased. As he stepped back, Jesus stepped forward. The stoplight faded on John and came up on Jesus.
John’s disciples didn’t understand this dynamic. They were confused. They were jealous of Jesus. They observed the expansion of the ministry of Jesus as theirs declined. Yet that was the plan and purpose of God from the beginning. He commissioned John to direct people to Jesus.
This is a great truth for us. When the focus is on us, it is off Jesus. When all centers on us, Jesus is pushed to the side. In our own journey we must be careful not to seek glory for ourselves, but glorify Him. We like John, must be the conduit that points people to Christ and that shows them to the Savior. We are the ones who should testify of a life transformed by His touch.
One aspect of our decrease is to confront self. We must depose that inner most part of being that cries for attention. We must disassociate ourselves from that part of us that seeks to gratify flesh above glorifying God and pursues happiness apart from holiness. We cannot and must not permit it to maintain control of our life. It wants to be large and in charge. Its reign and rule is not easily removed. Yet, if self is magnified, Christ is minimized. So self suppresses the Savior and therefore it must die in order for us to decrease and Jesus to increase.
Christ-centeredness comes only through the death of self-centeredness. It is the crucifixion of self that leads to our conformity to the Savior. Paul states it this way, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20). Self’s rule must be replaced with the Savior’s reign in our lives.
So we must eradicate self. We must Disarming is ability to direct us. We must constantly keep it in check. In doing this we facilitate our “decrease” and create the spiritual increase that will enable our sanctification.
Practically we make Christ increase in us when we saturate ourselves in scripture. In this way we learn who God is and how we can flourish in our relationship with Him.
Christ also increases in us through supplication. In prayer we connect intimately as we commune with Him. We pour ourselves out to Him, while He pours himself into us.
Christ additionally increases in us through the community of saints. No believer has completely evaded encounters with self. Our struggles are similar to other believers. Their stories encourage and enable Christ to increase in us.
Finally, Christ increases in us by His Spirit. Sanctification is a spiritual work. It is wrought by the Spirit. His inward workings convicting, guiding, encouraging and enabling lead us to disengage from self and draw us into the depths of devotion with our Savior. He must increase, but I must decrease. Make it so Lord.
Today step back and let Jesus step forward in your life. Ask the Lord to help you identify the strongholds of your flesh and eliminate them that Christ might increase in you. Praise Him for His word that directs you how to decrease and allow Jesus to increase in your life. Pray today that like John you might decrease and Jesus would increase in you.
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