Feb 23: Letting God call the Shots
John 3:22-36 TNIV from Biblegateway.com
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The person who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
Devotional Comments:
The followers of John the Baptist got into a dispute with a Jewish man who was nit picking the Jewish law concerning purification. Then John’s followers proceeded to tattle to him concerning a rumor about someone else (maybe Jesus) who was also baptizing people in another location.
It appears to me that a spirit of jealousy and pride was at work among these people. However, John was having none of it as he proceeded to set them all straight. explaining to them that he himself was not in a popularity contest with Jesus or anyone else, for that matter. John emphasizes to the group that God calls the shots and not mere man.
In pondering these verses, I also want to shy away from trying to make a name for myself in the Kingdom, but rather be content in just building the Kingdom for the King and not myself.
My prayer is that we all will be willing and able to discern our own specific gifting and tasks in this Kingdom work, while rejoicing in everyone else’s part as well.
Sandy Breitwieser
Pray for discernment and the humilty to understand your specific gifting.