Deflated

FYI, I've challenged my congregation to read the Bible through in 2010, and in fact have provided a plan whereas in 20 minutes a day we can all read the New Testament, then the Old Testament, then the New Testament again. Four chapters per day... that's it. The starting day doesn't have to be January 1... just start reading four chapters a day and see how far you can get! I have bookmarks with a quarterly checklist if you're interested. Just shoot me an email with your mailing address, or I can send a pdf file that you can print and cut yourself. My wife and I are reading The Message together each morning, and we're thoroughly enjoying it, even though sometimes Jesus' teaching kicks our butts.


As far as the sermon series - "Love in a Nutshell" - here is the NLT text for this Sunday...


John 3:22-36

"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." Wow, how difficult is it to have something go successfully, even beyond your wildest dreams... only to have someone else come in and steal the spotlight from you? Isn't our first inclination to fight and claw our way back to the top when someone threatens our glory? You name it... best player on the team, smartest kid in class, funniest joke-teller, most charming, best-looking, top salesperson... the list could go on and on. Whatever it is you do well... it sucks to have someone come in and effortlessly steal your thunder, doesn't it?


Frankly, I don't think John the Baptist was created to do a lot of things well. He apparently didn't socialize much with his peers, he wasn't in any danger of winning any fashion awards, he ate weird food, he insulted people who lived "alternative lifestyles," and he had no sense of political posturing. Basically, he was a hermit who lived by himself in the desert. But one thing John the Baptizer did very, very well... he preached the message of God's coming kingdom, and God's coming Messiah. He didn't charm people... he just bluntly proclaimed truth to them and frightened them to listen... and respond in droves. His words cut to the heart, and caused people from all over Judea to repent and become baptized. His ministry was a runaway success. He could've had his own TBN television show! But then another teacher came on the scene - his own cousin for goodness sake! - and very quickly, the huge crowds of adoring (or at least curious) fans thinned out. All of a sudden, everyone wanted to go see the guy from Nazareth and his ragtag friends. Naturally, John's disciples wanted to know what was up.


But John was no ordinary man... and no ordinary prophet. He was self-aware, and knew that his job wasn't to build bigger and bigger crowds for God. Nope, his job was to prepare the hearts of men and women - to make crooked roads straight - to get people ready for the coming of Emmanuel. 


I too want to prepare people for the coming of God in their lives. However, in striving to bring glory to God... too easily I find myself wanting a little glory of my own in the process. I don't know why really... but I find it difficult to follow John's example... his willingness to become less and less so God can become more and more. In theory, that's what I want... but in practice, often times I become more and more, so God can become less and less. Does that make sense to you?


Oh, God... please be patient with us. We're fickle... but we really do love you!