He must increase…

As I was listening to my chronological Bible reading app on YouVersion the other day, the portion of Scripture being read was about the beheading of John the Baptist. (I know, kind of gruesome.) Of course, when you are listening to a chronological version, you hear the same story repeated several times if it is told more than once in Scripture.

This story should have turned my thoughts toward Herod and how foolish he was to make such a promise to a step-daughter that ended up in having John killed. But the Lord directed my thoughts to a different path. Instead of beheading, I heard John saying of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

They were words I needed to hear.

Why? Because for some time now, I’ve wanted to be needed in certain ways that I’m really not needed. It’s better to be wanted than needed anyway, but part of me wanted both. I think we all face times in our lives when we want people to need us in the way we think we need them. And sometimes they just don’t. I wasn’t okay with that until I heard those words in my heart.

He must increase–they need Him, not me.

This was illustrated in another way to me as we watched The Chosen the other night. In Season two, episode three, Mary mentions that Jesus didn’t need her anymore and hadn’t for a long time. If you’re a mom, that has to tug at you a little, yes?

In the end of that scene, Mary actually does get the chance to help Him again, and discover that maybe He still did need her. Kind of like when your kids ask for your help on a project or to babysit their child–you feel wanted and needed again for a time.

Well all of those feelings are good things. I still want my mom who is 98, but I don’t need her like I used to. Then again, I still do need her. I need to know she’s still there to talk to, to play Words With Friends with each day. It gives me a connection to her that I don’t get in person any more.

I need my husband and he needs me. We want each other too. That’s a good thing!

I think you get the point.

But for me, I wanted more. It’s hard to explain because it gets too personal, but wanting and needing, increasing and decreasing all have their place. There was a time John was the famous one. Jesus came along and John knew his time to shine had come to an end. That happens to us all one day.

In the case of our hearts though, Jesus needs to increase, not us. He needs to be the one our friends and family need, not us. He needs to be the one we need and turn to in our time of need.

That’s not to say we don’t also need each other. But in a preeminent sense, Jesus is King. I can’t serve any other and be a faithful disciple of His.

Which brings me back to the increase/decrease lesson God taught me. The thing is, whatever our role in life may be–parent, grandparent, or close relative–there comes a time when we have to decide a few things.

Who is more important to me? My family? My career? My friends? My finances? Doing what I want? Or God?

He must increase, but I must decrease.

I can’t control the narrative in my life like I can my stories. I can only control my reactions or responses. To be a disciple of Jesus means He is in control of everything I am and have, including my job, my home, my family, my relationships, my health, my life.

He is preeminent. More of Him. Less of me.

My family and friends and career will still be important to me. Always. And they should be. But no one should be closer to me than Jesus. If I love Him as I want to, no one will ever take His place.

~Selah