![]() I get really excited when I think about the other half of the verse-exalting. The Other HalfĪs painful as it is to think about decreasing. The moon is actually much smaller than the sun, but when it comes between those of us here on earth and our sight of the sun (which is 400 times greater than the moon in size), it can block out our view of that brilliant ball of fire!Īs the moon is an object created to reflect the light of the sun, I was created to reflect God's image, to glorify Him, to exalt Him. ![]() What keeps coming to mind is the picture of blocking sunlight, in the same way the moon comes into view in the solar eclipse and prevents sight of the sun.Īs the moon is an object created to reflect the light of the sun, I was created to reflect God's image, to glorify Him, to exalt Him. Reflecting His Lightīut this willingness to decrease isn't "growing small" for the sake of disappearing from view but for the sake of allowing something greater to come into view. The willingness to "decrease" and the characteristic of humility obviously go hand-in-hand and perhaps feed one off the other. So is the process of actually "decreasing" the result of embracing humility? Or does "decreasing" cultivate humility? Or is "decreasing" just one specific form of walking in humility? Being willing to fade into the background, to become smaller, less, weaker, to diminish in visibility, strength or power, would require humility. I'm wondering how (or if) this principle of "decreasing" is different than embracing humility. John understood the valuable lessons of decrease. He wasn't depressed or anxious he was joyful to start his decline. But John delivered this invitation to experience declining popularity with joy. When John the Baptist handed off this explosive news to his followers, they were struggling with the idea of losing their platform of influence and crowd strength. "He must become more important, but I must become less important" (ISV). "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less" (NLT). Look at it with me in several versions: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30 NASB). Nope, He has definitely confirmed that this is all His idea for me to adopt this as my spiritual focus this year. Knowing me, I would've chosen a more comforting passage, something warm and fuzzy. I've been meditating on this one verse for a few weeks now, and I know it wasn't my idea to adopt this as my spiritual focus for 2015. It's always a good thing, but often a painful grinding process, as my extremely rough edges are worn away by His gracious refining work. Decreasing might also involve the grinding aspect of grace called sanctification. ![]() ![]() It sounds like it will involve loss, and I've suffered some painful losses this year-not sure I'm real excited to wade into more of that. It just sounds a bit painful, doesn't it? But if that is true, why do I get a tad uncomfortable when I think about me losing or "decreasing" in some way?ĭoes the idea of decreasing bother you at all? Getting smaller, lesser, weaker, diminishing. I desire for all to see and know His power, His beauty, to wonder at His glorious nature. decrease." An Uncomfortable Ideaĭecrease: to diminish or lessen in extent, quantity, strength, or power. The phrase repeats itself with a steady rhythm, and the intensity of it is overwhelming at times. One refrain has been running through my heart and mind consistently over the past few weeks: "He must increase, but I must decrease." This targeted message has lodged itself deep in my heart.
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