John 3:22-36
Reflect
How odd it would be to turn on a hockey or football game and see a bunch of fans waving big foam number 2’s and chanting “We’re number 2!”. Our culture is much more focused on being number 1. Our passage today shows how this need to “win” transcends our culture and more deeply is a cry of much of fallen humanity. John’s disciples were concerned that Jesus was “winning” at baptism, as if it was a competition. John wisely and humbly corrected them, pointing to the truth that his role was not to win at some earthly pursuit, but instead to faithfully serve in the task and context Jesus had given him.
When we fail to recognize that Jesus is the True Lord and Giver of Life, we can spend a lot of emotional and physical energy trying to “win” at life as we construct it. However, when we receive life from God as He designed it, we can find freedom from the treadmill of driven-ness and anxiety caused by competition and comparison. How instructive to see that John can say both, “He must become greater: I must become less” and “That joy is mine and now it is complete.” True joy comes not from winning at some arbitrary measure of the meaning of life. It comes from humbly and faithfully following Jesus and serving Him, whatever our context.
Apply
How might you be experiencing the anxiety and restlessness that come from living comparatively and competitively? What could it look like for you to humbly and gratefully receive life from Jesus today and serve joyfully where and how He has placed you?
Pastor Lyle
Pray
- Pray for our Prime Minister and Premier, Mayor Sohi, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to your mind.