Hi friends, I don't know about you, but lately I have found myself digging deeper into the Word of God throughout the day. Whether it be waking up earlier to spend more of my morning reading or opening my Bible app on my phone when I have a few minutes to spare throughout the day. As I have been doing this, I have found that passages I have read numerous times have begun to jump out at me in ways they never have before.
In fact, over the last few days I have found myself coming back to this passage in John 3 that talks about the need for Jesus to increase in our lives. Setting ourselves and our worldly desires aside and focusing on Jesus and who He is.
Within the Bible we see this instruction that Jesus must increase in our lives and we must decrease. We see this passage in John 3, we will start reading in verse 23 and finish at verse 30.
"'At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. (This was before John was thrown into prison.) A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less" (John 3:23-30).
It is so important that we understand the importance of knowing who our God is. He is faithful and He is just. He does not fail and He is always with us. It doesn't matter what may be going on around us, or what life throws our way our God is faithful. God is with us and He is always faithful.
I want to focus mainly on verse 30. Verse 30 tells us, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." Christ must become greater in our lives and we must become less. Now I'm not saying we have to completely get rid of who we are. No, what I am saying is that as we draw closer to our Creator we begin to mimic His character. Reflecting our Creator in our words and actions.
Interestingly, the word Christian or Chritianos in the original Greek means when translated follower or imitator of Christ. The word Christian means to be like Christ, to be imitators of Christ in our actions, words, and reactions. More of Jesus and less of us. As He becomes greater in our lives, our actions and words reflect our Creator and less of us.
I love what Galatians 2:20 tells us,
"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
As imitators of Christ it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. That is my prayer for all of us. That our lives would be a reflection of who our God is. That we would live in such a way, that those around us would see how we act and respond to situations and be able to see Christ through us. That our lives would be a reflection of who our God is.
More of Jesus and less of me. My prayer is that as we draw closer to our God, that our lives would reflect His light. That we would be a reflection of His goodness and light to those around us.
I don't know what season of life you are walking through right now, but what I do know is that our God is faithful and He is just! His goodness will never stop running after you! He leaves the ninety-nine just to come after you. You are a child of the Most High, and He will never leave you or forsake you. So, I just want to leave you with this reminder from John 3:30.
"He must become greater and greater and I must become less and less" (John 3:30).
Much love friends,
Alianna
Comments