UPSIDE DOWN

Make Me Small

 

Have you ever been around someone that was promoted to a position and it went “to their head?”  The military or a work environment would be places you might see this happen.  Or perhaps a friend made it on the team and you didn’t.  And all of the sudden, the friendship changes.  The person may flaunt their new success and you may become defensive.  And the friendship takes a turn for the worse.  Maintaining a solid grasp over who you are and who you belong to is key to relationships and how we treat people.

 

You are who you are because God made you that way.  That doesn’t mean you do not have character flaws.  It also doesn’t give you any rights over other people.

 

John the Baptist, who we talked about Sunday night, knew exactly who he belonged to and knew his purpose.

 

Pray:  God, give me an attitude like John the Baptist.  He knew You were the most important thing happening.  He did not try to be bigger than You.

 

Grab your Bible:  Read John 1:29-34 and John 3:30.

 

 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ ³¹ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

³² Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. ³³ I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.  John 1:29-34

 

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.  John 3:30

 

Get this, when John spoke big crowds gathered.  People lined up to repent of their sins and get baptized by John and his disciples.  Then Jesus shows up.  John knows who Jesus is.  He knows Jesus is God’s son.  And John declares that he is not even worthy to take off Jesus’ sandals.

Later on, when the crowds start following Jesus and not John, John’s disciples are worried.  “Everyone is going to him instead of coming to us.”

John simply responded, “I am not the Messiah.  I am only here to prepare the way for him….He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

Wow!  And God used John to turn the world upside down.  Let go of your ego.  Let go of your dreams to be famous or important or significant.  Know your purpose is to point others to Jesus, just like John did.  Ego and fame will fade away, but you will live your life on purpose with a much bigger goal.

 

Prayer:  God, you are the one.  You made me.  I am significant because you made me.  Help me not to pursue fame and significance.  But help me to live a life that points others to Jesus.