HE MUST INCREASE
"HE [Jesus] MUST INCREASE, BUT I [John the Baptist] MUST DECREASE."
John 3:30 (NKJV)
Whoever is working for God, for the expansion of His Kingdom on earth, must strive to live in line with the statement here. Jesus must keep increasing in the life of whoever is working for Him, whilst the self should continue decreasing in such a person's life.
What does it mean that Jesus must be increasing, but the self decreasing?
It thus means glory of the work, whatever the success or result you are getting, all the glory must always be given to Jesus Christ; because all the things are done through His name (John 15:5).
When Jesus' name is being magnified and glorified because of His work in the life of people, and His Kingdom on earth is being expanded; It means He, Jesus, is increasing, whilst the person being used is decreasing. The desire and focus of every genuine believer or minister is that Jesus is being announced and made known through his or her work or assignment or ministry.
If a believer or minister is out there to announce himself or herself wanting to make themselves known or popular or be accepted by the people; the person would surely fail because he or she is on their own, they would not have the backings of God.
The focus and the goal of whatever work anyone is doing should be to elevate Jesus Christ. The believers are to live for Christ. We tell people of what He did and accomplished through His substitutionary death and resurrection; that access to God the Father is granted through faith in Him—Christ.
Humans are reconciled to God through His name—Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
This primary assignment given to every believer should be of utmost importance to you. Today, any number of believers do not know the primary assignment given to every believer, which is reconciling the world to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Telling them that God is longing to have them with Him, that they should accept the offer of God, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Is Jesus Christ increasing in your life? What are you doing to cause Him to increase where you are; where you work, live, and the places you have had the opportunity of making His good news, the gospel, known?
Peace.