He Must Increase

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3

Taking a first glance at John, he looked rough around the edges. He lived in the wilderness. His hair was long. His clothes were rugged. His feet were dirty. If you happened to see him at dinner time, you might have been grossed out at his diet: honey-covered bugs.

But if you could get past what John looked like and listen to what he had to say, you would have been amazed. John's voice carried all the way from the countryside of Judah to the capital city of Jerusalem with a message people needed to hear: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." John was telling people there was a reason for hope and a way to have a relationship with God.

People wondered if John was the king of the kingdom of heaven, but John knew his place and responded in humility. John told the people, "I am not the Christ…He [the Christ who is Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease."

John, whom we call "the Baptist," showed the first followers of Jesus what it meant to be poor in spirit. Jesus calls his followers to be humble. He shows us the same. Followers of Jesus don't have anything to brag about on their own. We know that everything we have and everything we are that is good is from God. So, like John the Baptist, we try to be like and talk about Jesus so that He is the one people think of when they see us.

Father, I cannot save anyone. Jesus can save everyone. So help me live in a way that tells them about Him.