Christ Increases, I Decrease
Echoes of Elijah
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This then is my joy, and it is complete. He must become more important while I become less important.
John 3:29c-30 (NET)
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This is an amazing statement from John the Baptist.
He was confident enough in God’s work that he called out the people in a radical way. Crying out as a prophet — an echo of Elijah — and preaching a baptism of repentance.
Yet he was humble enough to give it all up in order to magnify Jesus.
Remarkable.
Especially considering he was probably around 30 years old.
I don’t think I had that kind of humility then. Probably still don’t.
Then again, there’s a reason God has called me to the work He has for me now and not put me in the place of John the Baptist.
God knows what He’s doing.
I know, an understatement. Still, I need to remind myself of this fact from time to time.
Casting aside my own pride and letting Christ overshadow myself is a lifelong struggle. I would like for it to be easy to crucify my flesh (as Paul put it) yet it’s hard.
This verse stands as a good reminder to me: that I must decrease and Jesus must increase.
Not only in my day to day life, but in my interactions with people, in my goals & dreams, in everything.
Recently, I took a spiritual gifts survey.
I’ve taken plenty of them over the years. This time I noticed a big increase in “Wisdom.” Likely because I’ve been reading a chapter of Proverbs almost every day for the past 10 years.
That consistency tends to produce growth.
An example of Christ increases in me.
Pretty cool.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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