More of Christ and Less of me
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30 NKJV
The NIV says it like this “ He must become greater I must become less”.
The NLT says “ He must become greater and greater and I must become less and less “.
Sometimes we get a little inflated in our thinking, a bit too prideful. Especially when we find ourselves accomplishing the smallest task at hand. We go around with our chest puffed up walking around like we have just solved all the world’s problems. If there was anyone in the whole history of the world to have a reason to walk in pride, hands down, John the Baptist should have been that man.
John the Baptist was the last great prophet. Probably the greatest prophet of them all. He was given the gift to present the whole world to the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. It was this time that he had prepared for his whole entire life.
John himself was a fulfillment of prophecies. So who better to boast and be prideful?
You see it’s all about Jesus, everything.
It’s about making His precious name known. It’s about making His Message the only message. It’s about making Him greater. We can only do all this if we become less.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 “ no longer I, but Christ “
We allow our own ambitions, our own pride, our own talents and abilities to shadow what Jesus has done and what He can do.
John says something incredible in his humility as he is Baptizing in the Jordan River.
“But there stands One among you whom you do not know.”
Jesus is in our midst.
We may have accepted Him into our lives. Maybe we have even made Him King of our own hearts, but there are still people who don’t know Him or know about the free gift of Salvation.
Are you pointing them to Jesus or yourself?
Are you living your life in a way that magnifies yourself or your Savior?
If it’s yourself then that needs to change. Point people to the one that has ransomed your soul.
It’s really nothing that you did, but everything Jesus did. He suffered for you, loved you so much he died for you. And rose again so you can live with Him in paradise. Don’t be afraid of proclaiming that it is ‘ no longer I but Christ ‘!
That’s the simplest way to decrease.
Even just reminding yourself of this in your own minds can change your outlook in a prideful situation.
Increase!
Increase His Greatness in your life.
Increase His Holy name to the ears that need to hear about Him.
Increase your love for Him, your need, your desire to serve Him wholeheartedly!
You will have no greater joy in your own heart or bring greater joy to the Father.
I know it’s not easy. I myself struggle with this daily. In my flesh I want all the credit for the accomplishments. I want to be the one that wants to be magnified.
I want the praise and honor!
But then John reminds me what the Lord says.
“ No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”
That’s when I must be reminded that I must decrease.
Humble yourselves before your King.
This is one of the hardest things to do in all of Christianity.
It is not easy to say, but it’s hard to try and live.
John the Baptizer completely laid everything out for Jesus. Then he stepped away and took no Glory or even tried to share it with Jesus.
John understood his job was to present the Messiah. More importantly John knew it was all to prepare the hearts of all those that would hear to receive the Messiah.
Once John’s job was completed, he would stand down. He would step away as Jesus stepped up.
This is one of the greatest examples of humility!
Stand down!
This is a military term used meaning to withdraw or to resign a position. It was first recorded back in the 1920’s.
STAND DOWN!
It was used during battle, when the troops on the offensive came to a point to where there was no more imminent danger, the squad leader would yell out stand down, stand down.
Every troop knew that was the time to stop, to withdraw.
That’s exactly what John had to do, stand down!
We have to decrease back into the shadows and allow Jesus to be front and center. We have to retreat back and stand down and give something back to the Lord.
Something that we have stolen from Him.
Something that only He deserves.
Today, purpose yourself to give The Lord back His Glory!
Today honor Him by decreasing. Humble yourselves before Him.
Increase and magnify His name to all that need to hear for the first time or be reminded! Increase Him by making all know that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World. The One who takes away the sins of the world. The Who is and is to come!
The King of Glory Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Today let your words be,
He must increase, but I must decrease because it is no longer I but Christ!
Do the work He has called you to do, then Stand down!
Pastor Ed
