“He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]”
John 3:30 (Amplified)
An outrider’s job is a very specific one. He must announce the presence and clear a path for the dignitary following close behind him and ensure that he makes good time. He never uses his siren except when on the job as he cannot clear the path solely for his own benefit. It must be on the behalf of that dignitary and only when he is present in the convoy. It is also unheard of and an act of professional suicide for an outrider who having done his job, then mounts the rostrum and arrogate the glory due to the dignitary. John the Baptist knew his mission in life – to announce the arrival of the Messiah and to prepare a way for His ministry. While he was aware of the honour accorded him and the responsibility that came with the job, he also understood the limit of His ministry and knew the red line he dared not cross. He knew that his job was to announce the Messiah and not become the Messiah. It is no wonder that he kept calling people’s attention to this fact. He knew that a good outrider must do his job to the best of his ability and then quietly fade into the background even as the dignitary takes his rightful place. He understood that whatever accolade that came his way was meant for the dignitary and not really for him, although he benefits from it.
So, what is wrong with the Church? It is that we hold too high a view of ourselves and too low a view of our God who should become increasingly preeminent amongst His people. We seem to delight in building mountains and creating potholes in the way of our Lord, thus making His journey through our lives as uncomfortable as possible. We then wonder at why we see little of His power and presence in our lives. Either as individuals or as groups, we are guilty of elevating our pet denominational doctrines, humanist reasonings and opinions, thus displacing God from the thrones of our hearts. We have refused to “Bring into subjection everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”, first in us and then in our world and we then wonder at why God could only spare His mercy drops rather than deluge us with His showers of blessing. When our theology has become more sacrosanct than God’s word, it is little wonder that His Church is in trouble and that we are increasingly becoming irrelevant in tackling the needs of the world. Like John the Baptist, our attitude should be that He must increase, but I must decrease, for there cannot be two captains in a boat. When we insist on having our way, we inevitably relegate God to an on looking passenger and miss out on His very best for us, for God cannot instigate a mutiny. He will only assume control and increasingly so, when we surrender the reins of our lives to Him.
So, who is steering your boat? Unless God’s Spirit is the source of the wind in your sail, you are guaranteed hard going. If your life is currently in the spiritual doldrums, it may be that you hold too much control and have been hindering God from taking total control of your life as He desires. Is God centre stage in your life? Is your utmost for His highest or are you prosecuting your own agenda to the detriment of His? You know what you must do to see His glory – He must increase, but you must decrease.
Prayer:
Father, I have realised that I can be so full of me that I have no space left for you in my life and priorities. I determine to change that as from today as I declare by faith that you shall increase in prominence as I decrease as you take the glory in my life. Amen.