You yourselves are my witnesses [you personally bear me out] that I stated, I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), but I have [only] been sent before Him [in advance of Him, to be His appointed forerunner, His messenger, His announcer]. He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
—John 3:28, 30
John the Baptist had a clear understanding of his calling, and he was content to fulfill it, even when it meant the diminishing of his role. As Christians we must be content. If I can never preach as well as some other preacher, I have to be content to preach the best I can. You and I cannot go beyond the grace of God in our lives. We cannot receive a gift from God just because we want one. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts according to His will for us, and we must be satisfied with what He gives.
Sometimes even though God wants to confer a gift upon us, it is not yet time for it to be bestowed. Until God says, “Now!” we can struggle and fuss and complain and quarrel, but we will still not get it. We won’t get it until He gives it, so we may as well learn to be content with such things as we have.
Lord, give me a clear sense of my calling so I can be the best I can be and yet not be fussing over what I am not. I simply want to serve You. Amen.
