John 3:30
The above words were stated by John the Baptist when his disciples came to him and said that all men were going to Jesus and being baptised. John recognised his position in relation to Jesus who was also his cousin and after explaining to his followers what was happening he stated simply “He [Jesus] must increase but I must decrease.”
Today, how can that apply to us? How can Jesus increase in us? How can we decrease?
For Jesus to increase means that His Word is obeyed above our sometimes contradictory thoughts and attitudes. It means that He has pre-eminence in our lives meaning he has His rightful place as Lord (ruler, King, superiority, authority) and Saviour (Redeemer, Deliverer, the One Who saves).
Continual prayer, reading, studying and applying God’s Word will cause there to be an increase in the ways of God in our lives and a decrease of the things in us that displease God.
Sometimes the way that God chooses to operate in our lives means that we walk in paths we would not ordinarily choose ourselves. It means that we deal with people we otherwise would not meet or wish to have fellowship with. It means we sometimes feel that we are being cut up inside painfully and slowly and so it must be for it is God’s will and plan that each of us be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ thereby making Jesus the firstborn of many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
It is God’s plan that each of us be replicas of Jesus on the earth manifesting the love, power, glory, and grace of God. Anything less than a desire and striving for this goal on our part means we are doing a great disservice to God and the sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary. Anything less than this means we deny the Holy Ghost and His power Who has been gifted to us to empower us to be just like Jesus.
The increase of Jesus in our lives means we will overcome fear; rejection; disappointment. It means we will have a clear focus and passion for God and all that He desires for us. The increase of Jesus in our lives will mean that our unsavoury characteristics will be starved and put to death and we will live not by our own strength but by the power of God.
The increase of Jesus in us means we will accept, understand and manifest the fact, the truth that the devil is already defeated. We will know that as we put on the whole armour of God, in every circumstance, we will see and know that we are victors, just walking the path of truth. The unction from the Holy One will not be limited or denied by us and we will utilise our mandated power from God to walk freely, to help others to walk free – in their minds, their emotions, their bodies and their lives generally.
The increase of Jesus in our lives is the only way forward for us as Christians regardless of the times it looks like we are losing our own identity; losing the ground we thought we had covered; losing friendships and relationships. Let our heartcry be one of submission and understanding welcoming the fact that, at any cost, Jesus MUST increase but I must decrease.
Written by Rev (Mrs) Marjorielyn R Campbell, ©Petra Global Ministries 2006
E-mail: admin@petraglobal.org.uk
This devotion may be reprinted, copied or distributed with the following acknowledgement shown:
“Reprinted/Copied/Distributed with the permission of:
Rev (Mrs) Marjorielyn R Campbell, ©Petra Global Ministries 2006; www.petraglobal.org.uk”
