He must increase, but I must decrease. [John 3:30 (ESV)]
After pointing out Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” some of John the Baptizer’s disciples left John to follow Jesus. Later, John’s remaining disciples reported that Jesus was baptizing (it actually was His disciples) and wanted to know whose purification ritual of baptism was valid. With many turning from John to Jesus, the Baptizer’s disciples were confused, concerned, and probably a little envious. Apparently, they forgot that John’s original mission was that of forerunner—the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah and point the way to the Lamb of God. Knowing that he wasn’t the bridegroom but only His friend, the Baptizer humbly affirmed his position by telling his disciples that Jesus must become more prominent while he became less and less important. J.C. Ryle likened the Baptizer’s role to that of a star growing paler and paler as the sun rises until the star completely disappears in the light of the sun. John clearly understood that he was to fade in the light of the Son.
During this time of Lent, I have given thought to John’s words and tried (rather unsuccessfully) to decrease so that Jesus’ presence can increase. It was upon reading the following prayer by John Wesley that I realized how much of me I refuse to surrender. Prepared by Wesley for the early Methodist societies in 1755, the prayer is part of a Covenant Renewal Service in Methodist churches today. Although Wesley’s original, with its “Thee,” “Thy,” and “Thou,” has been updated with “You,” “Your,” and “Yours,” the prayer’s level of commitment remains the same.
I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will; Put me to doing; put me to suffering; Let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, Exalted for You, or brought low for You; Let me be full, let me be empty; Let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. [John Wesley]
These are the words of a man who was willing to decrease so that Jesus would increase—so that God’s light would be visible in his life. A prayer of surrender, Wesley’s words are those of a servant who loves and trusts his master enough to willingly submit in advance to whatever his master demands.
When Jesus called us to take up our crosses, He wasn’t speaking of bravely facing some tragic situation or long-term illness. A cross meant certain death and taking up our cross means dying to ourselves. Surrendering our wants, plans, and desires to Him, taking up our cross is decreasing while He increases! Unlike Wesley, my prayer of, “Do with me whatever You please, give me whatever task you would have me do, send me wherever whenever you want, take all that I have, and give me whatever you choose,” includes the unspoken words, “as long as it’s what I want and isn’t too inconvenient!”
While I may sing the old hymn’s words, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee,” there are limitations to my offer. God is welcome to my life, my time, my hands and feet, my voice, my skills, my wealth, and my will just as long as it’s on my terms! By the way, Lord, don’t ask me to do manual labor, go without modern conveniences, move, learn a new language, or leave my family!
In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis points out that God doesn’t want most of our time and attention or even all of it; He want us—the whole package—body and soul! There is no part of us that does not belong to Him and upon which he has no claim. He wants to completely fill us with His presence, but that’s only possible if we decrease to make room for Him. It is only when we empty our souls of our own will that He can fill us with His! Let us remember: If we’re too filled with ourselves to make room for His fasts, sacrifices, and responsibilities, then we’re too filled with ourselves to have room for His feasts, gifts, and blessings!
Lord, show me how to decrease so that You might increase!
While browsing a bookstore (yes, they still exist), I came across a book offering more than 100 ways to say “Thank you.” It suggested ways to express one’s appreciation for milestone celebrations, business opportunities, assistance, social events, and assorted gifts. It even offered “damage control” for tardy thank you notes. There also were chapters devoted to topics like stationery, envelopes, and internet etiquette. One chapter offered a “thank you thesaurus” complete with several “glowing superlatives and energetic adjectives.”
One of the most disturbing stories in the Bible is found in Judges 11. Before leading the army into battle with the Ammonites, Jephthah made a rash vow to the Lord—if given victory, he’d make a burnt sacrifice of the first thing to come out of his house to meet him upon his return. God granted Israel victory but, when Jephthah returned home, it was his daughter who came out to greet him. When the anguished Jephthah told her of his vow, the girl willingly accepted her fate. She only asked for one thing—to go into the hills with her friends to mourn that she’d never marry or know the joy of motherhood. When she returned, “her father kept the vow he had made and she died a virgin.”
In the years following the exiles’ return to Judah and the rebuilding of the Temple, adherence to the Law grew lax. Knowing how to live a Jewish life depended on knowing the commandments of the Torah but the people had drifted away from God and His word and were committing the same sins that got them exiled! More than fifty years after the Temple’s rebuilding, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. As a priest and teacher of the law, Ezra was shocked to find such disobedience. He tore his clothes and pulled his hair in sorrow before kneeling in prayer. He led the people in prayers of confession and repentance after which they swore a solemn oath to follow the Lord’s commands.
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, over ninety years had passed since the first of the exiled Jews had returned to Judah. Although the temple had been rebuilt for seventy years, Jerusalem’s city walls and gates were still in ruins. Nevertheless, within fifty-two days of his arrival, the walls were reconstructed and new gates installed. That Nehemiah managed to accomplish in less than two months what hadn’t been done in ninety years is a case study in Management 101.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell of the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Nearly fifty years after Jerusalem was destroyed, the first of the exiled Jews returned to the ruined city. Although his brother Hanani returned to Judah, Nehemiah, who served Persia’s King Artaxerxes as cup-bearer, didn’t. While his job included ensuring the safety of the king’s food and drink, Nehemiah was more bodyguard than waiter. In constant contact with the king, he served as both confidant and companion to Artaxerxes. He carried the king’s signet ring and possibly served as his chief financial officer.
