First of all, I have to say that I really enjoy the Wednesday nights when we have community group. Its so cool to see how much these relationships have grown in the short time that we have been meeting. I would definitely say that it feels almost like family on Wednesday nights even if five new people come. Its amazing how God uses these groups to really bring people together to grow in relationships with one another as we grow in Christ together.
This past week we read the first five chapters of John and discussed on Wednesday night how God spoke to us through it. We normally read some books by Christian authors that are totally in sync with loving God and loving others and totally against the Christian country clubs that many churches have turned into. So it was cool to go to the source from which all these books are inspired. It was insane how even though we all read the same things God spoke to us in so many different ways. This is why it is so important to read the bible for yourself and ask God to speak to you through it. But we could have seriously talked all night about what God revealed to us through this part of the gospel. One of the main things that struck me was how John the baptist totally got how to fulfill his role in the story of Christ.
John 3: 25-30 says:
25An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew[i] over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They 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—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ[j] but am sent ahead of him.’ 29The 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. 30He must become greater; I must become less.
He must become greater; I must become less. Johns disciples saw Jesus becoming greater than John and started confronting John about it, but John knew that his purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus not to make himself great. I think we often forget how short life is and spend all our lives trying to make ourselves great instead of playing our role in the story of Christ and lifting Him up with our lives. I say this not judging anyone, but simply stating facts about my own life. I found this scripture very humbling and I hope that you do too.
