In Touch Daily DEVOTIONAL for 24th October 2023 Tuesday
You are welcome to Today’s In Touch Daily Devotional written by Dr Charles Stanley and published by In Touch Ministry. Charles F. Stanley is the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. He demonstrates a keen awareness of people’s needs and provides Christ-centered biblically-based principles for everyday life.
Today’s Topic: Faith to Be Less
Smaller roles in God’s kingdom don’t have smaller joy.
Scripture: John 3:26-31
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
In Touch Daily Devotional – Dr. Charles Stanley 24th October 2023
In today’s passage, we see the disciples of John the Baptist showing concern for their leader, or perhaps for the viability of his ministry. “The one you identified as the Messiah is also baptizing people,” they said, “and everybody is going to him instead of coming to us” (v. 26 NLT). They knew John wasn’t the Messiah, or at least that he said he wasn’t. Perhaps they hoped his ministry would continue to be relevant, and that he’d receive the respect he deserved as a prophet. For these reasons, John’s response may have surprised them.
“This joy of mine has been made full,” he said. “[Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (vv. 29-30). John’s faith in Christ enabled him to handle being less. His faith meant stepping from center stage into the shadows. But John had no sadness or regret; he felt only complete joy.
The Baptizer understood his role. His faithful service—which Jesus acknowledged after Herod had John arrested (Matthew 11:9-10)—was just that: service. John recognized that his primary work was to set the stage for the Messiah.
Our role in God’s work is similar. Like John, let us find our fullest joy in bearing witness, embracing the lesser role that points to the Savior and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29).
Bible in One Year: Luke 8-9
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