As we go on this journey and look to serve others, we must keep first things first. More than anything else, we want to elevate God and practice putting him in the place of highest priority in our hearts and our actions. We aren’t in competition with one another. We can be a community who, instead of elbowing others to make our way to the front of the spotlight, together, amplifies the name and cause of Jesus.
Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, amazingly articulated this in John 3:27-31 when some of his own followers asked him about all the attention Jesus was receiving.
“John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.”
Questions to consider:
How do I feel about Jesus getting more attention than I do?
How do I feel about others getting more credit than I do?
How does that impact the way I serve?
An action step to take:
What’s one part of my life where I need to pray, “Jesus, you must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”