Allowing Christ to Become Greater While I Become Less: Five Practical Ways to Start Doing This Today

John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”

The ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus are overlapping.  John has been preparing the way baptizing and calling for people to repent of their sins.  The other gospels portray him wearing clothes made from camel’s hair and wearing a leather belt.  They have him eating locusts and wild honey.  Isaiah 40:3 is quoted as a prophecy fulfilled, “A voice of the one calling in the desert, ‘prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all highlight Jesus being baptized by John.  All the gospels reveal that when John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus “like a dove.”  God revealed to John that Jesus was the Son of God.  So when someone came to John saying that others are going to Jesus to get baptized, John quickly responded that Jesus was the Christ, not himself, and others should be going to Jesus to be baptized.  He talks about a joy he has in knowing that Jesus is the Christ and his preaching has been fulfilled.  John the Baptist then makes this statement, “He must become greater; I must become less.”  John’s statement is quite profound.  It is the truth of the gospel. You and I could learn much from this attitude and idea.  Christ must become greater.  You and I must become less.  Well, how do you do that?  How do we make Christ greater and how do we become less.  I am glad you asked!  I want to share with you how you can begin this process today.

First and foremost, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we must have an understanding about who Christ is.  The Bible has hundreds of names for Jesus.  Understanding who Jesus is means that we have an understanding what each of those names mean.  Many men and women who are much better scholars than I could ever be have devoted their lives to studying scripture and examining these names of Jesus.  Let’s just take one of these names:  Lord.  In the New Testament alone, Lord is used 3,322 times in 3,058 verses.  Dictionary.com defines lord “as a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.” With this definition in mind, making Jesus Lord means you are giving Him authority, control, and power over your life.  Have you come to the place in your life where you have allowed this to happen?  It is interesting to know that just because Jesus is Lord, He only becomes Lord of your life when you allow Him to do so.  John the Baptist simply stated here, “He must become greater; I must become less.”  If you allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are allowing Him to become greater.  Romans 10:9 states “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  2 Corinthians 4:5 states, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”  1 Peter 3:15 states, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  Can you answer the question when asked if Jesus is Lord?  He must become greater, I must become less.

Secondly, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we must forgive as we have been forgiven.  In Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, we hear that familiar line Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.” Ephesians 4:32 reads “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 reads “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  Hebrews 8:12 reminds us just how much we have been forgiven:  “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  Psalm 103:11-12 also remind us “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  You and I have been forgiven greatly! What would happen in your world if you forgave as you have been forgiven?  You will become less and Christ will become greater!

Thirdly, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we need to love as we are loved.  In John 15:12, Jesus said “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  A few chapters later in 1 Corinthians 16:4, Paul simply states “Do everything in love.”  How’s your love life?  Is your love evidence that you are allowing Christ to become greater and you becoming less?  There are times when I will argue with the Lord about who I should love.  Just this week I was driving down the road in a 55 mile per hour zone behind a car from Florida driving 35.  I promise you that my thoughts and actions did not reveal that I was becoming less.  I certainly did not love that driver very much, but when they turned on their turn signal, I rejoiced!  Are you like me?  Are you conditional with your love?  If so, are we allowing Christ to become greater and ourselves to become less?  Ephesians 5:1-2 reads, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Honestly, there have been times when my lack of loving others has not produced a fragrant offering.  In fact, I am certain that it has stunk all the way to heaven.  In order for Christ to become greater, I must become less by living a life of love.

Fourth, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we need to become students of His word.  2 Timothy 2:15 reads, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  Can you correctly handle the word of truth?  Are you a student of God’s word? 

Hebrews 4:12 reads, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

1 Peter 1:23-25 reads, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’  And this is the word that was preached to you.”

Colossians 3:16 reads, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Are you a student of the Word of God?  If not, why not?  What is keeping you from being one? 

Last of all, in order for Christ to become greater and for me to become less, I need to live a life of prayer.  There is something about praying that allows you to become less and Christ to become greater.  Tim Keller in his incredible book Prayer, states that “the greatness of prayer is nothing but an extension of the greatness and glory of God in our lives.”  If you want to experience the greatness and glory of God in your life, simply pray.  Jesus taught His disciples to pray.  He prayed often and regularly.  He even died praying.  Jesus, in being submissive to His Father’s will, even became less so that God could become greater.  Jesus recognized and taught the value of prayer.  He prayed, “Not my will, but thine.”  In doing so, Jesus became less and allowed God to be greater.  Have you seen the movie Warroom?  This movie is a great reminder of the call to prayer and how prayer can allow us to become less and Christ to become greater!

So there you have it.  If you want to have the mindset of John the Baptist and allow Christ to become greater and you to become less, understand who Jesus is, forgive as you have been forgiven, love as you have been loved, become a student of God’s word, and spend time with Him in prayer.

Overwhelming?  Go back to this.  God created you and has a purpose for you.  However, our problem is that we are imperfect people and our imperfection provides problems when we try to connect with a perfect God.  Yet because God loves us so much, He provided a means for us to have access to Him.  For God so loved the world that He gave us His son and whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  All we have to do is to begin with a step of belief.  The simplicity of the gospel is found in the lyrics of this children’s song:  “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong!!”  Do you know that Jesus loves you?  Do you know that He is strong?  Ask Him about it.  He is ready to tell you so.  Allow HIM to become greater and you to become less. Start today.  Renew it every day, and watch what happens.