John 3:27-28 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.” You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Christ,” but, “I have been sent ahead of Him.”
Today, I want to encourage us with three lessons from John the Baptist. First, he wasn’t building his ministry; he received his ministry from God. John knew who his source was. He had nothing that wasn’t given to Him from God in heaven. That’s not only a humble attitude, but it is the truth which gave John confidence and relieved him of the stress of striving to be successful and significant. Understanding this truth is foundational to living to love with Jesus. We aren’t trying to be successful lovers of God and people. We expect Jesus to love through us, day by day, moment by moment, as we encounter people. In fact, we live for that reality. That’s the fruit we display that glorifies the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. So let’s remember, we aren’t building a ministry for the glory of God; we receive a ministry through His life in us, so the Father will be glorified in the Son.
Second, John the Baptist knew who he wasn’t and who he was. He wasn’t the Christ, and he was the Messiah’s forerunner. Here’s the question for us. Do we know who we are not and who we are? For instance, do we know that we are not God and we are His creatures? Nothing comes from us. We are not the source nor the authority in our lives. We were made for Him. We are to be Christ-imagers. We are not life, but we are recipients of eternal life. Life is not about us. Life is about Jesus. Do you see what I mean? Do we know who we are not and who we are?
Third, all believers are sent ahead of Jesus in the lives of those who will eventually follow Him. Yes, it is possible for God to draw someone to Christ without their having been influenced by a follower of Christ, but as a general rule, we make disciples of Christ by first building relationships with them. Just as John prepared the way for Christ in the lives of his followers, there will be people who are attracted to Christ in us who will, in a sense, follow us. They will first connect with us before connecting with Jesus, like John’s followers connected with him before following Jesus. Who are your followers that you are pointing to Jesus?
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
