He Must Increase

"He must increase; I must decrease." - John 3:30

John was known as John the Baptist because that is what he did, he baptized people for the forgiveness of sins. And then Jesus comes along and starts baptizing people as well, and eventually more people started going to Jesus than to John. When someone asked John how he felt about this, he expressed his joy that God's work was being done by saying "He must increase; I must decrease." While reading this, the prideful part of me was hurt! I know I'm on Jesus' team, but poor John! If it would have been me, I would have felt bad and even jealous that my spotlight was being taken away on the project I started. But John saw beyond that and was truly glad, from the very bottom of his heart, that people were now approaching Jesus. How hard is it for you and I to be actually and truly happy when we see someone else succeed, especially when it's something we felt we ourselves deserved?

The answer is that it's very hard, and if wasn't for the fact that John was a man of God, his response wouldn't have been authentic. The only way John meant what he said was because in his person God was already increasing and he was decreasing. And so must it be with us. If we want to be better people, more honest, more caring, we need to let Jesus increase in us, while we decrease. If we allow for Jesus to increase, our pride, envy, anger, and resentment decrease. Nothing is impossible for those who trust fully in God and in God it is possible to let go of all negative feelings that plague us and poison us from within. In God true joy and true love for others is possible if and when we let Jesus Christ increase.

Today's Prayer:
Jesus, throughout my day I encounter people who annoy me, make me angry or even hurt me. I don't like what I see in myself when I'm around them - the anger, the dislike, the jealousy. Please, Lord, come into my heart and take away what You don't like. Jesus, increase in me so that I may decrease. In Your Name we pray, amen.