John was talking about the influence that he had been having as compared to what Jesus was going to have. John’s role was declining. His light was becoming dimmer. The light of Jesus was just beginning to shine, and would become brighter and brighter. John could not have spoken truer words. He captured the essence of our life and our relationship with the Lord. “He must become greater; I must become less.”

 

God calls us to HOLINESS! Without holiness we will never see the Lord! (Hebrews 12:14). God calls us to PURITY! Jesus said, “Blessed are the PURE in heart, for they will see God!” (Matthew 5:8). This holiness is not something that we do “for” God. It is something we do “with” God! Purity is not something “we” become. It is the transformation that “God” works “in us” and “through us.” “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). We will never be pure without Christ in us. We cannot be pure without Him! When we fail, it is simply because it was that “we” were trying to do it ourselves. Jesus must become greater; we must become less.

 

God calls us to EVANGELISM! We are to teach every person in every nation, tribe, language, wherever they are. We may not answer for not teaching every person in the world, but we will answer for not teaching those we know. EVANGELISM is like PURITY and HOLINESS. It is not something “we” become or something “we” do. EVANGELISM is what Jesus does “through us” and “with us.” It is in our lives where Jesus becomes greater; and we become less!

 

COMMITMENT to Jesus is paramount! We must yield ourselves to Him. This is the heart of what John was saying! Jesus becomes greater; and we become less! We are called to empty ourselves of self. Jesus led the way in showing us how. Without the emptying of self, the rest will not happen.

 

I can see it happening here! Look around and you will see it as well. Jesus becoming greater, while we are becoming less!