August 18th, 2023
Friday, August 18
He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease
By: Anna Williams
“An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” - John 3:25-26 NIV
“He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less.”
- John 3:30 NIV
Reading this selection of verses might be a little confusing without context – especially since one John writes it about another John. The one referred to here is the John we know as John, the Baptist. He is the unorthodox preacher who spent most of his life living in the wilderness and preaching of the coming of Christ. Over time, he amassed a substantial following of his own disciples that believed the Messiah was coming.
Once Jesus arrived on the scene and began his public ministry, there were some people who saw that as a threat to John’s ministry. But that wasn’t an issue for John. Despite his fame and large following, he never lost sight of who he was in relation to Jesus. He had a strong understanding of who should be in charge. If you read what he said in verse 30 in the Amplified Bible version it says “He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.”
I love that. I confess that sometimes the simplest verses remain with me the longest and are of the most help when my mind is in turmoil. It is so tempting to fall back into our old habits and let our hurt ego, self-reliance or pride impact our attitude and actions.
Sometimes, we need to put those things to death daily in order to focus on Jesus. If you are struggling with that today, know that I prayed over you while writing this and that the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to help you let those things go. Let Jesus be seen more in your life.
He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease
By: Anna Williams
“An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” - John 3:25-26 NIV
“He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less.”
- John 3:30 NIV
Reading this selection of verses might be a little confusing without context – especially since one John writes it about another John. The one referred to here is the John we know as John, the Baptist. He is the unorthodox preacher who spent most of his life living in the wilderness and preaching of the coming of Christ. Over time, he amassed a substantial following of his own disciples that believed the Messiah was coming.
Once Jesus arrived on the scene and began his public ministry, there were some people who saw that as a threat to John’s ministry. But that wasn’t an issue for John. Despite his fame and large following, he never lost sight of who he was in relation to Jesus. He had a strong understanding of who should be in charge. If you read what he said in verse 30 in the Amplified Bible version it says “He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.”
I love that. I confess that sometimes the simplest verses remain with me the longest and are of the most help when my mind is in turmoil. It is so tempting to fall back into our old habits and let our hurt ego, self-reliance or pride impact our attitude and actions.
Sometimes, we need to put those things to death daily in order to focus on Jesus. If you are struggling with that today, know that I prayed over you while writing this and that the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to help you let those things go. Let Jesus be seen more in your life.
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