I’ve been reading through John lately and I came across a passage in John chapter 3 that really hit me. Here it is:

²⁵ Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.

²⁶ And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

²⁷ John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

²⁸ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’

²⁹ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.

In this passage, John the Baptist is basically being asked if he was “jealous” of the ministry that Jesus had begun. You see John’s message was one of repentance, to turn away from wickedness. People now saw this “new” Jesus guy and saw that he was healing and doing great miracles and they were wanting to be baptized by Him. John’s disciples were looking at it like “Wait, YOU baptized HIM.. what the heck!”.

Don’t we do this? Maybe we have helped someone who is struggling and then we see God grab a hold of them and excel them in ways that we have not been chosen to excel. Maybe we find ourselves asking “why not me?”. I’ve been there, it is a pretty natural flesh reaction.

I am so grateful for this passage because of John the Baptist’s response. He acknowledges that a person cannot receive anything unless it is given by God. He assures his disciples that he is not the focus. He then says the most profound statement… “He must increase, but I must decrease”.

Should that not be our prayer in everything where we see God moving? Even if it does not include us directly? We have the privilege and opportunity to pray and support those that God is increasing. So this day, as you see God moving… Let your prayer be “Lord, You increase and I will decrease”.

Soli Deo Gloria