Scripture to Read: John 3:29–30
John the Baptist wanted to leave no doubt in his disciples’ hearts and minds about who he wanted them to follow. As John the Baptist spoke to them, he said in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Unless someone is willing to die to their old life they’ll never experience new life through Christ. John the Baptist knew that he and everyone else who would follow Christ must choose to die to themselves in order to receive genuine life through Christ. God led Paul to write it like this in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Jesus said it like this in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” To deny ourselves is to die to ourselves. We know sinners are already dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1–3), but when any sinner chooses to die to themselves and surrender to Christ, their old self is crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). Then, through Christ, that sinner is resurrected with Christ to a brand new life (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:4, Galatians 6:15). Christ is not just in a saved person’s life, but Christ is our life (Colossians 3:4)—that is why we must decrease every day. By decreasing, we are choosing to crucify our fleshly desires (Ephesians 4:17–19, Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:5–8) so that we live for our Lord (Ephesians 4:24, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12–16, Romans 6:12–14).
Challenge & Application
• What was John the Baptist making sure all of his disciples knew?
• From what you learned today, how must we live each day as followers of Christ?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!