A nearby church called a new pastor. He was well received and in a short time the church began to grow. The attendance at Sunday school and worship services increased beyond expectations. Even the number of people at prayer meeting surprised everyone.
“Congratulations
on the way your church is responding to you,” I said after being introduced to
him. “What are you doing differently than most other churches to see such
growth?”
“I’m
decreasing,” was his strange reply.
“Decreasing?”
I asked with a question mark on my face.
“Yes,” came
his quick reply. “It’s what John said about Jesus: ‘He will increase if I will
decrease.’“
John’s
willingness to decrease is an important first step in humility. Those of us who
want to serve God with the gifts He has given us are always tempted to do what
John did in reverse order: we want the attention and focus to be upon us and
what we are doing when blessings occur and success arrives.
We must
never forget that it is always about Him. If we want to see Him at work in our
lives, we must do as John did so successfully: point to Him and make Him the
“main attraction.” We must never put ourselves first. We must stand aside and
let His Kingdom grow!
Prayer:
Lord, it’s difficult to get out of the way and not want to be praised
in what we do for You. We pray for hearts that are humble and lives that are
surrendered to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: He must become greater and greater, and I must
become less and less. John 3:30
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