John 3:30

John 3:30
He must become greater; I must become less."

Today we will look at this passage and think about it.
This verse was in last week's devotional that we are doing.
In any moment, things can get difficult for anybody.
I had the most difficult day yesterday, I did not have the strength to do anything, but I tried.
Even today I am not feeling well, because something has attacked me and I am not able to rid myself of it.
All our lives are like this.
We are bombarded by things around us constantly even when we try to live a life for Christ, but how much more do you think it will be difficult if you do not even try to live wholly committed to Christ.
Do you really love the cross or is it just an accessory that you wear?
The cross of Calvary is the life of death and suffering, but we think that it is not like this.
We are told in Matthew that those who follow Christ will be persecuted, but do you suffer persecution for Christ?
The moment someone says something that you dislike, your anger comes up. Are you suffering for Christ?
If you plant a seed for a certain vegetable or fruit does something else grow in its place?
What are the seeds that you have planted in your life?
You plant seeds of anger,destruction and hate, but you expect blessings and love.
What have you planted?
You wonder why your family is in turmoil and why your children are rebellious.
You have planted those seeds.
It is time to look at yourself.
Children need their parents, but have you raised them correctly if they are completely dependent on you?
You have raised them improperly because instead of raising them to depend on God you raised them to look up to you the parent.
When people suffer and you try to ease the suffering you are getting in the way of that person's growth.  You are robbing them of their spiritual growth.
You are to live a life that reflects Jesus but rather you want to live a life that reflects you.
How many people say they are followers of Christ and healers, but when you ask them who did the work they claim ownership and do not give glory to God.
Are you the only one who prays and heals people?
You do not heal, it is Christ who heals and you are to give Him glory.
If you keep getting in the way of someone's path to see God and you take the glory you are not doing God's work.
We are to be ready at all times to meet Christ.
He comes to us when we are at our most difficult times suffering sin, but when He comes we tell Him to not approach us.
Instead of always being ready to meet Him, we try to live a life that only tries to meet Him during prayer.
Man is capable of incredible things through discipline.
We can live a life that reflects the glory of God through discipline and trials, but do we live this life?
How much have you suffered this week?
You think that you can do what you want, be rebuked and then continue doing what you want.
That is not the life of a Christian, the life of a Christian is about suffering and serving.
We think that our lives should be without pain and suffering.
We refuse to go through trials and difficulties but say that we are one with Christ.
Is that possible.
Jeremiah made prophecies about the suffering because the people left God, but when we hear prophecies we only want them to be about blessings.
Even if my life were to come to an end, I must speak the truth to my last breath just as did John the Baptist.
Jesus says that there is none higher than John in heaven.
John lived on locust and wore camel hair, but it was a life that God acknowledged.
The life that God acknowledges is the life that is fruitful.
The disciples all served.
That is the life of greatness.
I must sacrifice myself, but because I refuse there lies the problem.
Recently in Russia a mother drank a liter of wine and then breast fed her child who eventually died of alcohol poisoning.
What you do as a parent will effect the life of your children and when your children have seen you live in rebellion against God where will your children end up?
You tell them to do good but what have they seen so that they know what good is?
You put them into the path of hell and you are responsible for their souls.
Have you ever considered that you have responsibility for how they turn out?
In your lives you see what people are doing, but when you see them are you learning how to live or are you learning how not to?
Are your actions providing proper nutrition for the souls of others or are you poisoning them?
Do you realize that by your actions that you are killing the spirit of others?
in order to suffer with Christ on the cross i am to suffer and humble myself and do what I must not for myself but for others.
What use is it to make more money?
Are you going to eat 5 meals instead of three?  Will you drive a care that will take you somewhere your car that you have cannot?
Life is not about the things of this world but the things of the spirit.
You think that just by saying you are sorry that you can get away with the life you live.
You use the apology as an excuse because you refuse to do what you know you must.
Love your neighbor as yourself is the command, but do you?
You don't even love those in your family, how much less will you love others?
We are to be victorious and overcome this life, the things of our pride, family, business.
The only way to succeed is to live a life that follows Christ.
We sing that we will bear the cross but what does that mean?
You think that when you bear the cross you will keep your pride and everything that you desire, but you are not promised that.
The only thing that you are promised is the keeping of your soul.
But you want more so you pray for material.  Is this praise and worship?
You are to get out of the way of God doing His work but you hinder Him from His glory with your life.
Should you not enter into the promised land?
May you live a life that is in union with our Lord Jesus this week.