“For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28)
Little men must be big. Great men are willing to be little. How much do we make it about ourselves? Do we find it hard to share the stage? Must we be seen and heard; or can we sit and let another, even one we deem less than ourselves, have the spotlight?
John the Baptist was great, not because of the miracles he did. “… John did no miracle” (John 10:41) He was great because of his humility. He was not one to point to himself. He pointed to the One who came after him. “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36)
Like all true prophets, John did not bring attention to himself. He did not make anything about him. In fact, he did his very best to get out of the way. He wanted the focus to shift from him to Christ. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
No matter who we are, we are nothing apart from God and His grace. We have nothing to glory in but Christ. We dare not make anything about us, and who we are, and what we deserve. If we are recipients of God’s amazing grace we have acknowledged what wretches we were. If He who was worthy of all honor could empty Himself and become a nothing in men’s eyes, why should we yet be so full of ourselves?
Let us take our cue from John – declare that Christ must increase in your life. His glory, His power, His beauty must be seen. All men must be drawn to Him. We must decrease – first in our own eyes, and then we will not bristle when men think little of us. May we be content that God alone is deemed the great One, and He alone thinks we’re great.