Today’s Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 3 verses 26 through 30:
26They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ 27John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.’
Now here is a great lesson in humility.
John teaches us the way of self-emptying — the way of acceptance of one’s own path and calling. For John, that means decrease even as it means increase for his younger cousin and proteges, Jesus.
John is not caught up with popularity or with numbers or with who or who is not baptizing more people. “I am not the messiah,” he says. “No one can receive anything except for what has been given from heaven.”
In other words, mass following is a not a goal, but a gift. Our job is to be faithful, not necessarily wildly successful. As Paul put it, “One plants. Another waters. God causes the increase.” The increase is in God’s hands. The gift is heaven’s to give.
John Wesley used to pray, “Let me be exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee . . . Let me have everything; let me have nothing.”
This is the way of surrender. The way of self-emptying.
Take my life and let it be.
Thy will be done.
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