March 24, 2011

Decreasing for His Purpose

He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30

If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful, thank you for your thoughts.
    I'm following from the blog hop.
    I'd love a follow back at
    www.mikaspantry.blogspot.com
    Thanks!
    Mika

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  2. THis is really good, hon. Sometimes we want so much to save our friends and family form any pain or grief. We would reach out and grab it for them if we could. But, sometimes, we have to let them fall and suffer. Sometimes that have to fall faaaarrrrrrr- to depths we've never seen before and it's hard to remember that God is holding them in the palm of his hand. This is a really good reminder of His grace and His power- and our responsibilities.
    We're following you now! Thanks for linking up on the Blog Hop!
    Tiffany

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  3. Very Inspirational!

    Thanks for following me...I'm returning the favor:)

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  4. Hi! returning the follow!
    Thanks 4 stopping by my
    blog!:0)

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  5. Thanks for stopping by! I love all the verses on your side bar:-)
    Stefanie

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  6. I haven't thought about this. But you are right thanks to difficulties god refine us and we would like our loved ones to be refined as well. A new follower Come over an visit
    www.mytotlearningtime.blogspot.com

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  7. What a beautiful blog! I'm going to come back here whenever I need some wisdom and inspiration:) Thank you for visiting my blog...and now I'm your newest follower!

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  8. Returning the follow!

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  9. Love your blog. This is beautiful. God Bless.

    I am following you from the blog hop, won't you follow me :) @ Let's Start Saving Now. I always find some great blogs and information.

    Kelli
    www.LetsStartSavingNow.com

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