Scripture

He must increase, but I must decrease.

~John 3:30, NASB

Quote

Goodness and purity ought never to attract attention to themselves, they ought simply to be magnets to draw others to Jesus Christ.

~Oswald Chambers {My Utmost, March 25}

I was blessed to be a part of a great revival that took place in my home church in 1969. Prayer services continued nightly for almost six months. Six people surrendered to the gospel ministry in that revival and young people full of zeal were knocking on doors and sharing Jesus as best they could. What happened was encouraging to some, but it upset many others. The door-to-door witnessing was really upsetting one of the older deacons and I remember his rebuke…He quoted Matthew 5:16, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. He then said, “I let my good works do the talking.” Then he said, I let my life do the talking.” There is only one problem with his thinking; goodness in and of itself does not give glory to God nor does it point others to Jesus who is the only One who can make us good. The key to Matthew 5:13 is the four words I have in bold, “in such a way.” There is no question that we are to do good works, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them {Eph.2:10}, BUT we must do them in such a way that Jesus gets the glory.

John the Baptist understood this principle. John was a big hit with the common people and the center of attention until Jesus showed up. John’s followers didn’t understand but John did; he confessed, I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. We are the friend of the Groom. We are not in competition for the bride. What kind of a person would be a best man while hitting on the Groom’s bride. John said, “I am not the groom, I am the best man and I rejoice just hearing Him repeat the vows.” John’s joy was in Jesus; not is robbing Him of His glory. There is no greater evil than to pretend to be good in a vain effort to take the glory that belongs to Christ.

Bottom line, if you are a true friend of Jesus, you will work Him into the conversation and make sure He gets glory for what ever good work you performed. This truth dawned on me some 35-40 years ago and began practicing this principle when I would pick up hitch hikers. I would tell them, “I didn’t want to pick you up and if it had been up to me I would not have but Jesus has called me to love and to help others. I want to make it clear; Jesus is the reason I stopped to help you.” Holly and I were doing some yard work last Spring for a friend of hers who lives in Hartselle. We cut down a huge Crape Myrtle and a lady next door came out and asks us to cut a couple down that we in her yard which we did. Then she offered to pay us and I said, “We didn’t do it for money, we did it for Jesus.” That comment ignited and extended conversation.  Make sure you give Jesus the glory. There is no real pleasure in taking the glory that belongs to Him. Stop flirting with bride and give HIM the glory.

Extra

PTL I am better. My stomach started hurting Tuesday evening and I thought it was my ulcers but when I couldn’t eat anything, I realized I had a bug. I stayed in bed all day yesterday. I didn’t do anything except watch a little TV last night. Man, it is great to feel better.

I got my copy of the IMPRIMIS in the mail Monday. The article this month is on the violent crime in the city of Chicago. It is a very interesting article that is a must read. Chicago had over 850 murders last year with 1,836 carjackings and many of them end violently with innocent people being killed. There are many problems: first over two thirds of the people in Chicago don’t vote in local elections. State legislation has crippled the police department and the state is run by democrats. It is a one-party government and filled with corruption. The Michigan Avenue shopping district is now history due to violence, riots and looting. Most of the building are now abandoned. Gangs are now fighting on expressways killing innocent motorist. There has been a complete breakdown in public education and their criminal justice system. Most of the violent crime is committed by criminals who have been sentenced but released on probation. Their criminal justice system has morphed into what advocates and prosecutors’ describe as SOCIAL JUSTICE. The courts are more concerned with getting criminals {mostly black men} out of jail than prosecuting violent crime. Their easy probation has become a license to kill. The article is written by Matt Rosenberg who just happens to be Jewish. I wouldn’t think anyone could accuse him of being bias. I think he hit the nail on the head and I wish that every Southern Baptist would read the article. For all these emotionally weak dupes who cry social justice, I would like for them to face the reality of it’s by products. It is Marxist in theory and evil in practice. God help us when key leaders in the SBC support this subtle evil. There is no such thing as SOCIAL JUSTICE.  Social is not a good word anymore: it has been highjacked by the cultural Marxist. Beware anytime you see the word “SOCIAL”…social justice, social studies, socialism, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. There is only God’s justice or biblical justice. I can promise you that Chicago is not governed by biblical justice.

I hope you have a great day…Thanks for reading the blog.