Scripture for Today: John 3:30 “He must become greater, I must become less.”

Had this man been a religious official in ancient Rome, anyone watching him would assume he was interpreting natural signs or augurs. Divine approval or disapproval was often determined by watching the behavior of birds! Augurs were meant to predict an outcome. “Inaugurato” was a ceremony using the augurs to seek the sanction of the gods for something decreed by man. The Latin origin of inaugurate was “inaugurare” meaning to “increase.”

John the Baptist in today’s verse is reassuring his disciples. They were concerned that Jesus was stealing John’s thunder. John told them that Jesus must increase or become greater while he himself must fulfill his role to prepare the way for Him. John understood that he would decrease, or become less, even though he was in the unique position of being the last prophet of the Old Testament. Rather than holding on to his influence and power, John gives way to the Lord. In a sense, John the Baptist was to “inaugurate” Jesus, pointing people to Him. His ministry was not about himself but about Jesus.

There may be no formal ceremony involved, but I am to do all I can to decrease myself and increase my Lord! My life is not about me primarily but about Him. Paul expressed this thought when he said, “For me to live is Christ…” (Phil. 1:21) I want Him to be seen and recognized in me but it is a daily challenge! However, I find that when His character is evident in me through His Spirit, I am my best self! It seems counter-intuitive but fulfilling my role to point others to Him makes my own little life so much more significant!

Lord, may You increase in me and in my life!

Scripture for Today:  Hebrews 3:13  “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

This wall of icicles was impressive! But all I am thinking while standing there was how cold it was and would you please finish with taking the picture! What I should have been thinking was that it would be better to stand out from those icicles a bit more! As beautiful as the ice is, those hard sharp points are a danger! We had to learn over our years in France how to shovel and salt the snow, how to drive on icy roads, and how giving a wide berth to icicles was the smart thing to do!

Today’s verse is a loving warning. The deceitfulness of sin can harden a heart. The longer one denies wrong doing, the more difficult it is to hear His still small voice of conviction. The more one indulges in a sinful behavior, the more likely it is that the heart becomes hardened and deceived. There is an urgency in this verse. Hardened hearts do not improve with time. They only become harder. The time to respond to His voice is today. His voice may be much fainter tomorrow and we may miss it completely. 

When I listen to Him my heart is soft and open, like fresh powdery snow. When I ignore His conviction, what was soft and melted becomes hard and defensive. When I rationalize what I am doing, I deceive myself. Sometimes I am not even aware of what I am doing, until the hardness of my heart makes me slip and fall! Today is the day I need encouragement to obey. Today is the day I need to encourage others to obey. 

Lord, do not let me ever be hardened towards You.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 65:11 “You crown the year with Your good blessings and You leave abundance in Your wake.”

This crown belongs to Queen Elizabeth and being that it weighs three pounds, the quote from Shakespeare, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” can be understood two ways!  It is so heavy that the Queen will practice wearing it a few days before having to don it for an official ceremony.  But the crown is impressive with its valuable jewels.  More than that, it impresses as a symbol of power and authority.

Today’s verse describes a power and authority much larger than that of an earthly monarch!  We serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  It is in His power to crown a year with His blessing and abundance!  He came in order to give His followers a life that is abundant (John 10:10).  He promises His blessings for those who are obedient to Him.  His eyes search over the entire earth to see whose hearts are fully committed to Him, in order to strengthen them (II Chron. 16:9).  He looks to bless His own with good things as a Father does for his son (Matt. 7:11).

How reassuring to be His own and face the future with trust and confidence in His provision!  I do not know what the new year will hold, but like the saying says, “I know who holds the future.”  He is worth trusting.  He will crown this new year with His goodness toward me.  I know this with every fiber of my being because He has promised, and because He has been so faithful even in that strange previous year.  Whatever this new year may hold, I can look forward to an eventual fulfillment of every hope and every dream!

Lord, thank you for Your goodness toward me.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from a previous year.)

Scripture for Today: I Peter 4:12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

My grandson practically trembles in anticipation as he stands ready to whack! The game “whack-a-mole” can use moles, sharks or anything else that can pop up and defy being bonked. But in fact, there is little anyone can do to be really ready. That is because the sharks are ready as well and their sequence is random and unpredictable. By the time the mallet comes down, the moment has passed and up pops a new challenge!

Today’s verse tells believers not to be surprised at the hard times we suffer. They are not the exception but the norm. We are not exempt from difficulties, although sometimes we think we should be. It is easy to be lulled into thinking that an easy life is our right and privilege as God’s own. Then something suddenly happens and we are surprised! And as soon as we feel we have mastered a situation, up pops something else. Nothing strange is happening. God uses it all to test our faith.  

This testing of my faith is never very comfortable. When am I ever ready for multiple troubles to arrive? But I can be sure that the hard times are never random, even in their timing. When I feel that I just can’t anymore, that is when I learn dependence on the Lord. He does not ask me to face life in my own strength. Instead, He shows Himself strong and able through my weakness. Whatever threatens to defeat me, He has already conquered! I can share in His victory as I place my trust in His powerful arm.

Thank you Lord, that You help me pass these tests of faith.