五旬节四

我必衰微

——约翰福音三章三十节

犹太地从约翰受洗的人，先后都跟随了耶稣。约翰的门徒可能为此感到不平，但施洗约翰的回答却是：“他必兴旺，我必衰微。”因为神赐他以利亚的心志能力，只是为主预备合用的百姓，为主预备道路。

神的儿女应当为主结果累累，但无权为自己留下一颗果实。只应将人引到基督面前，却不能使任何一个人追随自己。在属灵的事工上，总是主必兴旺，我必衰微。

人生又何尝不是一个让别人兴旺、甘愿自己衰微的一生。在一条漫长的旅途中，他接过前人的棒跑过一程之后，又交给那比自己跑得更快的人。他从前人铺成的路石上走过，又为后来的人甘把自己铺为路石。

主啊，求你赐我心志能力。好使我此生不致虚度；但又赐我谦卑与自知，使我在神与人面前甘愿衰微。

Pentecost  4

John 3:30

 I must decrease

  All who were baptized by John the Baptist followed Jesus. John’s disciples may have felt this was unfair, but his reply was, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” He said this because God had given him Elijah’s ability of spirit, but this was only to prepare a suitable people for God, to prepare the way of the Lord.

  The daughters and sons of God should store up much fruit, but they do not have the right to keep a single piece for themselves. They should lead others to Christ, but must not lead others to follow themselves. The ministry of the spirit means that God must always increase, while we must decrease.

Isn’t this the way life should be? Shouldn’t we decrease while others increase? On life’s long journey, when we have received the baton from the one ahead and run our length of the race, then we must pass the baton on to one who runs faster than we. When that person has traveled over the road prepared by the one ahead, then he or she must be willing to pave the way for those who come after.

  God, give me ability of spirit, that I may not fritter away this life. But grant me also humility and self-understanding to willingly decrease before God and others.