Daily Devotion

Reflection: Terry
Voice: Emily

We must decrease

Audio

Today is Tuesday, 24th of June. We also commemorate the work and life of John the Baptist today.

We join the psalmist to praise the Lord in the words of Psalm 149:

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
² Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
³ Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
⁵ Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
⁹ to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning,
is now, and shall be forever. Amen.

John 3: 25-30

²⁵ Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. ²⁶ And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” ²⁷ John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ ²⁹ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Reflection

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John the Baptist had drawn a following through his powerful ministry. But when Jesus began His public work, some of John’s disciples became concerned that people—some of their own—were now turning to Jesus.

John’s responses reveal the heart of Christian ministry. This is the posture every pastor, minister, or Christian leader must embrace.

Whatever gifts we possess—speaking, leading, shepherding—are not ours to own. They are entrusted to us by God for a season.

We are not the Christ; we are only His messengers.

Like the friend of the bridegroom, we rejoice not in the crowd that gathers around us, but in seeing His bride—the Church – come before their Groom. The people we lead do not belong to us; they belong to Him.

Ministry is never about position, power, career progression or even personal fulfillment. We certainly should never engage in ministry to gain control over others or to build our reputation. It is the quiet giving over of ourselves for God and others.

In the end, as He is exalted, we are content to fade. The less we are seen, the better. In a paradoxical way, in not seeking to establish our legacy, we leave behind a legacy. That was what John the Baptist did. In wanting to be forgotten, we remember what he did and we are encouraged to follow his example.

He must increase and we must decrease.

For the only affirmation we seek will be from Him:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

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We end with the Collect of the Day:

Almighty God,
by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Saviour
by the preaching of repentance:
lead us to repent according to his preaching
and, after his example, constantly to speak the truth,
boldly to rebuke vice, and patiently to suffer for the truth’s sake;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Be blessed by this song, Alabaster Jar.

This alabaster jar is all I have of worth
I break it at Your feet, Lord, it’s less than You deserve
You’re far more beautiful, more precious than the oil
The sum of my desires and the fullness of my joy
Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King
Here I am, take me as an offering

Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Take me
This time that I have left is all I have of worth

I lay it at Your feet, Lord, it’s less than You deserve
And though I’ve little strength, and though my days are few
You gave Your life for me so I will live my life for You

Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Here I am, take me as an offering

Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory, take me
Worthy, worthy, You are worthy, worthy is the Lord
Worthy, worthy, You are worthy, worthy is the Lord
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Take me

Link to today’s Morning Office