I’ve been thinking a lot lately, which is kinda rare for me.lol.
I am a very messed up person. No different than any other person on this planet I suppose. Just like everyone else I have dreams and ambitions, I want a career and a family and a house and a car. All of these things are ok, I’m not a Gnostic, I don’t think that material things are evil and need to be opposed, although I do think that far too often my motives are tainted and selfish.
The last little while has been challenging, trying to sort out a few ideas in my head and how it should look when it plays out in real time. In John 3:27 it says that “ A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven.” The context of this passage is one that allows it to make so much more sense. Starting in verse 25 until verse 30 John the Baptist is doing his thing ( baptizing) and some guy comes over to talk with John and his buddies about what they do. The conversation that takes place shows how Jesus and his disciples are in the same area doing the same thing, baptizing people. Jesus and his disciples are stealing John’s job. They are taking Johns ambitions and doing his work. John’s response shows something that would be extremely difficult to feel much less say. “ A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven.” It’s like everything that I’ve done everything that I have accomplished, all that I thought I did all by myself, like a grown up, all those plans that I have to build a life for myself just went right out the figurative window because not even one thing can be received unless God decides to give it to me? This is a very hard thing to hear and read.
I don’t think if John was here today he would tell us to just kick back and do nothing because God is gonna give us everything, that is not what this means. What this does mean is that all of my plans to become a great person and do good things for myself and my family are in the hands of God. That He is bigger than my plans and that apart from Him everything is so absolutely pointless.
John is alright with being Jesus’ side-kick; he doesn’t feel the need to be the big name. “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete”- John 3:29.
It’s like John’s attitude is so polar opposite to how it should have been. He is so pumped to be doing the same thing as Jesus. He’s not upset that Jesus is stealing his thunder, he is just happy to be close to Him. John sees himself as the friend of the all star not the opponent who wants to take his title.
This is how I want to be, how I need to be. I don’t want to try and build my own life and do things on my own as if to say “Hey Jesus look at me, I can do this too.” I should want him to do it, and just be happy that he is nearby.
“He must increase but I must decrease.” – John 3:30
