Friday, 1 May 2015

Day 5 - More of you, less of me

Reading: John 3:22-36

Have you ever had the experience of investing huge amounts of effort into a role or project, only to find that someone else has come along and ‘taken all the glory’, is better, more successful or popular than you? 

Feeling a lack of appreciation, to be outshone by another’s abilities or inadequate to complete a task are common human experiences and John the Baptist had reason to feel all these things and more.  He had devoted his life to deliver a message of repentance, he had put aside a settled, comfortable existence, to live out his calling, and people had responded to his message.  But now, they were turning away from him to another voice. All that effort, passion and sacrifice and no-one to listen.

Yet John’s response is extraordinary. Instead of jumping to the defensive, or attempting to extinguish the competition, or giving in to discouragement, he submits in humility and generosity of spirit.  He is content to slip off into the sidelines, to allow Jesus to take centre stage. John knows that all he has achieved has been due to God, not his own abilities. He has a healthy sense of his self before God, a deep understanding of the person of Jesus and the unfailing resource of the Holy Spirit. This realisation releases John into joy, allows him to take pleasure in his God-given role and enables him to powerfully prophesy. God uses John strategically to prepare the way for Jesus. John is the warm-up act and someone who is ready and willing to play his part.

For me, this is a reminder that all that I have at work, home and church is given from God. I have no excuse to hang back through feelings of inadequacy or lack of recognition. I serve in order to give Jesus centre stage.  The same is true for each of us, as we serve and play our part in God’s amazing plan.

Response

Father, in all that I think, feel and do this week, may there be more of you and less of me. Amen.


Louise

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