John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ESV

Let us continue our consideration of John the Baptist’s declaration, “He must increase, but I must decrease” and its impact and importance for us today.  He must increase!  There are some obvious places where He must increase for Him and us to fulfill our purpose and ministry on this earth.

HE MUSTS INCREASE IN OUR LIVING…

John 10:10 reveals a key to the purpose and ministry of Jesus.  The latter part of that verse declares, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  If you and I are going to enjoy and possess the fulness of the Life God intended for us, Jesus must increase in our lives!  He must fill our lives in a greater capacity than He now does.  He must fill our lives to the greatest capacity possible. 

Remember His directive, “Seek first (above everything) the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”  Remember the greatest commandment – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, minds, soul, and strength.”  Those reveal the extent to which God must increase in our lives!

He cannot become larger than He is!  However, He can become larger to us, and He can be reflected to a greater extent and measure in my life.  He must be given a greater position in my priorities.  He must be given a greater position in my desires.  He must be given a greater position in my commitments.  He must be given a greater position in my pursuits.  His increase, His will must supersede mine!

It is vital that we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our minds with Him, His Word, His Will, and His Purpose.  He must increase in my thoughts.  We are instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus.  We are directed in Romans 12:2 that the objective is for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  In Philippians 4:7 we are promised that God’s Peace, which is beyond man’s ability to comprehend will keep our hearts and minds if surrendered fully to Him.

That is important in light of the revelation of Proverbs 23:7, that as we think in our hearts we become.  We are not necessarily what we think we are, but we are a product of what we think.  He must increase!  We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us keep our hearts with all diligence knowing that out of it flow the issues and essence of life. (Proverbs 4:23).

He must increase in our decision-making!  I have a policy that I make no decisions or only rare decisions until I have spent the night praying about them.  As His presence, will, and influence increases my actions desires, thoughts, motives, ambitions, and goals are dramatically altered.  As He increases my carnal appetites diminish and my spiritual appetite increases.  As He increases there is a marked decrease in my self-life and an increase in a sense of His presence, person, peace, and power.  He must increase!

The more He increases the more self becomes secondary.  I suggest that His increase is directly proportional to our implementing Matthew 6:33 in our lives.  The more we seek Him and His Kingdom and Righteousness the less we pursue our own selfish purposes and the more impact we have in this world.

I want to take this at least one more step so I will pause and pick this up in the next devotional. 

May the Lord richly bless you as you walk with the determination to decrease to self and see the increase of Him in your life!