![]() Would you have me mount into my Master's place? Said I not unto you, I am not the Christ? The Bride is not mine, why should the people stay with me? Mine it is to point the burdened to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, to tell them there is Balm in Gilead, and a Physician there. ![]() A man, &c.-"I do my heaven-prescribed work, and that is enough for me. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary27-30. And, if our diminution and abasement may but in the least contribute to the advancement of his name and honour, let us cheerfully submit to it, and be content to be any thing, yea, to be nothing, so that Christ may be all. But let us especially rejoice to observe the glory of Christ increasing, and eclipsing the lustre of all other glory, as the increasing light of the morning causes the glory of the morning star to decline, and at last entirely to disappear. Let us know how to set as well as how to rise and let it comfort our declining days, to trace, in those who are likely to succeed us in our work, the openings of yet greater usefulness. Thus they who are now like John, burning and shining lights, must, (if not suddenly eclipsed,) like him, gradually decrease, while others are increasing about them as they in their turns grew up amid the decays of the former generation. Thus John speaks of Christ’s increase and his own decrease, not only as what was necessary and unavoidable, and that which could not be prevented, and therefore must be borne but as highly just and agreeable to him: and he is entirely satisfied with it, nay, and rejoices in it. He that cometh from above is above all - As if he had said, It is fit he should increase, while I decrease for he is a person of infinitely greater dignity than I am, possesses far more knowledge of the divine will, and the discoveries which he makes thereof as far transcend mine as heaven exceeds earth. He must increase - And appear continually more and more glorious, like the growing moon but I must decrease - Must gradually wane and decline, till I disappear: for the end of my ministry is now, in a great measure, answered, and therefore I quickly expect to be dismissed from it. What do you think needs to be decreased in your life particularly during the season of Lent? In what area of your life does God look at you with love and ask you to set something aside for a closer walk with Him? Come share with us! Join the conversation below.Benson Commentary John 3:30-31. Want to learn more about the book? Take a look inside… Your Turn Watch the Video for the book, 40 Days of Decrease ![]() May our decrease likewise increase our generation’s view of Jesus.Įxcerpted with permission from 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. John decreased so that the Messiah would be revealed in John’s lifetime. John decreased so others could follow the One who preceded and surpassed him (John 1:30). John decreased so others could see the Lamb. Those who steward attention as means and not end stand tall and serve strong, knowing that all gifts come from God and can therefore draw attention to God. It becomes evil when used as a self-serving end instead of a God-serving means. By willingly decreasing, John increased others’ view of the Savior.Īttention is not innately evil. From John’s perspective, the true value of people seeing him was that people would then be positioned to see through him and gaze at Jesus. His longing was to draw his generation’s attention and allegiance to the Messiah. But decrease for John was less about assets and more about attention. His diet was narrow, his possessions were minimal, and his focus was eternal. In many ways, John lived a Lenten lifestyle 365 days a year. make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). ![]() Gabriel had announced John’s life-calling to Zechariah before John was even conceived: John was the one who, “in the spirit and power of Elijah. John’s understanding of “less is more” was spiritually profound. John the Baptist was the first among Jesus’ followers to grasp its counter-cultural power. Because much of the reason we’re here on earth is to see Jesus and have others see Him through us.” Be blessed by this exclusive excerpt…ĭecrease is a spiritual necessity. 40 Days of Decrease invites you to thin your life to thicken your communion with God.Īs Chole writes, “Our focus is uncluttering our hearts from the stuff that weighs us down and blocks our, and others’ view of Jesus. Editor’s note: While the tradition of Lent and fasting (or giving something up) is not traditional for most evangelical Christians, there is a growing interest among many believers to use these weeks before Easter to draw closer to Christ, remember His sacrifice, and ready our hearts to celebrate His Resurrection! In her popular book 40 Days of Decrease, Christian author Alicia Britt Chole invites us to consider Lent as a kickoff to a season of decrease, a different type of fast.
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