Day 9
Thursday, January 20th
John the Baptist is perhaps one of my favourite people in the bible, from descriptions of a questionable diet (locusts and honey) to boldly declaring to the assembly that one would come after him that would baptise with the spirit not just water. He was by all accounts a man who didn’t care much for earthly things but was far more concerned with matters of the spirit. John the Baptist knew that more was coming better than most at the time, In John 3 he is challenged by his followers who were concerning themselves with Jesus performing baptisms with this amazing response:
John 3:27-30
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
John knew that for Christ to be fully realised by the people he had faithfully ministered to for many years that he had to step back. He says, “He must become greater, I must become less” The example he gives alongside this is so perfect as well. He identifies himself not as the bridegroom but as the friend attending the wedding. This is an example I think we can all learn from especially if we are wanting to see more of Gods presence in our 2022. Ultimately, we are not the main event, God is and for us to see more of him we must decrease so he can increase.
I don’t know what you’re expecting from 2022 but I know that when we take this small exert from John the Baptists life and apply it to our own then we will see amazing things happen. We must humble ourselves before God and he will lift us up [James 4:10]. In that humility we decrease, so that he may increase. More of God is less of us, its not a loss but an incredible gain of the presence of his holy spirit in our lives.
Prayer:
Lord let us decrease so that you may increase, we want you at the centre of all we do and are. We ask for more of you in our life. Let our wants and desires align with you and all you have for us this year
Challenge:
What area of your life do you need to become decrease in so that he can increase in today?
Peter Heslop
Community Manager