He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 (NKJV)
In the beginning of the book “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, he begins with a simple statement “It’s not about you.” This statement comes as a rude awakening to our natural point-of-view. We want to believe and act like everything revolves around us and our personal agenda. Even in doing good we twist and turn until we are patted on the back and glorified. If we are to change our world for Christ we must first realize that the throne does not belong to us; it belongs to Him.
As we seek a closer relationship with God we begin to realize that life is so much more than our feelings and comfort. God has a greater purpose that goes beyond the scope of our imagination. We must seek to lay aside our life, so that we can find true fulfillment in Him (Matt. 10:39 ). We must decrease our “me” centered mentality, so that His love and His will can grow and flourish in our life.
The laying aside of self is not an easy process. It will not happen overnight and it is not a “get there and we are done” kind of thing. As long as we are here in our earthly body, we will wrestle with this “flesh”. Therefore, we need to daily keep our bodies in subjection to Christ, and allow Him to strip away the many layers of selfishness and conceit (1 Cor. 9:27 ). Then when there is more of Him than there is of us, a difference will be made in the lives of others. Oh what great love and compassion we find when we allow the mind of Christ to overtake us!
“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit 'till all shall see. Christ only, always, living in me.” Adelaide
