John Ogden, Sr, writes for the Christian Motorcycle Association
Contact information is: P.O. Box 9, 4278 HWY 71 South Hatfield, Arkansas 71945 (870) 389-6196 www.cmausa.org
“He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all” (John 3:30-31, NKJV).
This setting of scriptures deals with John the Baptist exalting Christ. He is dealing with the subject of he himself decreasing, and Jesus increasing. While this was an event for John, it is a life experience for us today. When we experience the new birth, we first submit our will, repent, give our life to Christ and in essence make Him Lord of our life. In order for us to reach our potential and grow in Him we must come to a place of total surrender. Our life must be a life of surrender daily. Everything about our flesh must continually be decreasing, allowing the Spirit of Christ to be increasing in us.
Within all of us we have a desire to be recognized and to be seen. It is our flesh nature. We like attention and fame. But, as Christians, we need to be very careful, for our central theme is not about being seen, but about Christ being seen. True ministry begins with the breaking of our spirit for a release of the Spirit of God within us. Just as a seed cannot yield forth a plant until it is broken and dies, we cannot reach or yield forth the destiny of Christ in us until we become totally broken.
We must come to a place that we are not concerned about what man thinks or says, either positive or negative, but where we are focused on what the Spirit of God is calling us to do and the direction that He would send us. Just as Jesus, when He walked on the face of this earth, had to die to the flesh in order to accomplish His purpose in coming to earth, we must surrender the wants and desires of our natural man to the plans of God. When this is accomplished, we will sense the greatest joy and fulfillment because we are truly walking in God’s plan.
Today determine not to live for yourself, but for Christ alone. Determine that in all that you do to see God’s will perfected in your lives that you might decrease and that Christ may increase.
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