Today, here in Sydney, I witnessed one my best friends getting married. Weddings are truly blessed occassions. There I saw all the people who mattered to the couple. They set their day off and gathered to show their love and support for the holy bond. I flew from the Philippines to Australia (with the help of some friends) to be part of this once in a lifetime event of my dear friends Fredney and Christine. I was the best man. It was their special day and all eyes were on them.
The challenge for us Christians today is to live in a way that Christ will increase in the eyes of others. Like the bride and groom during the wedding, all eyes must be on them and we fade into the background as we do our duties.
During the time of John the baptist, his followers saw that Jesus was also baptizing people and there was a dispute among them.
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven (John 3: 25-27).
John knew that his role was to prepare people to receive Christ. He knew that all eyes should be on Christ. John further says...
You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease. (John 28-30)."
Like the best man, we shouldn't steal the show from the bride and the bridegroom. We must therefore be conscious of who is being praised for the good works we do. In our thoughts, we are to dismiss temptations of claiming glory which is rigthfully God's.
"He must increase; I must decrease" is something we can say to ourselves everytime we do service or do our jobs. In this way, we are reminded that we merely play the role of best man or maid of honor humbly supporting Christ who should be at the center of attention.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
The challenge for us Christians today is to live in a way that Christ will increase in the eyes of others. Like the bride and groom during the wedding, all eyes must be on them and we fade into the background as we do our duties.
During the time of John the baptist, his followers saw that Jesus was also baptizing people and there was a dispute among them.
John knew that his role was to prepare people to receive Christ. He knew that all eyes should be on Christ. John further says...
Like the best man, we shouldn't steal the show from the bride and the bridegroom. We must therefore be conscious of who is being praised for the good works we do. In our thoughts, we are to dismiss temptations of claiming glory which is rigthfully God's.
"He must increase; I must decrease" is something we can say to ourselves everytime we do service or do our jobs. In this way, we are reminded that we merely play the role of best man or maid of honor humbly supporting Christ who should be at the center of attention.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
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