He must increase, but I must decrease

Teens Awakening, Learning, Knowing

And Sharing God’s word!

3-16-10

FBC Glenpool Youth Choir Tour Devotions

God of Our Yesterdays

John 3:30

“He must increase, but I must decrease”

 

Here it is Tuesday, and you have had several days of devotions, singing, laughing, crying, and sharing the love of Christ through your personal lives.  You have seen children and adults who are in places where they feel alone, abandoned, forgotten and rejected. You have examined your own walk with the Lord and been challenged to look differently at your life.  You understand now that when you sing for the Lord you need to sing with your whole self, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  You have gained a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what He did you for.  And hopefully, you have gone deeper in your desire for a closer and more personal relationship with your Savior, Jesus. However, in this devotion is your greatest challenge of all.  It is the call from God to put what you want behind you and what God wants in front of you.  He must increase in all you do and you must decrease.  What does that really mean?  What does it look like?  Let me show you through my yesterdays.

 

As a young girl I was not popular at school and most of the time the other girls just laughed at me and called me names.  The boys threw things at me and one even picked up a stick and poked it at me telling me he would not touch me with a ten foot poll.

Every day I went home crying and feeling so alone.  I hated going to school but I would rather be there than at home.  So every day I got up and went to school knowing I would be made fun of and sit by myself.

 

During the summer between eighth and ninth grade, there was a school picnic all the kids were going to.  I didn’t want to stay home so I went to the picnic.  I knew I would be alone but hoped some how I would enjoy myself. While at the picnic all the boys were playing football.  I watched the boys play and then suddenly one of the new boys in town was running to catch the football and stumbled over me, we both fell to the ground.  I was so embarrassed and knew the other kids must be laughing.  But to my surprise the boy who ran over me put out his hand to help me up.  He even said he was sorry.  Later, while everyone was eating hotdogs the boy came over to talk to me.  I didn’t know what to think.  No one had ever been so nice to me. I thought the other kids were putting him up to it just for a laugh.  Nevertheless I enjoyed the company.

 

When school started the boy passed me in the hall and said hello.  Every day he took time to talk to me and be nice to me.  He didn’t seem to care what the other kids thought.  He had become my friend even if the kids told him to stay away and made fun of him for talking to me, he kept being my friend.  He had decided that my feelings were more important than his.  He hated seeing me mistreated and he wasn’t going to give in to the pressure of his peers.  What this boy did for this me was he showed me God’s love by putting aside any concern for himself as he reached out and make me feel welcome and cared about. This boy was God in my yesterdays. Later in life as I grew up I never forgot this boy.  His selfless kindness caused others to start treating me better and I began believing I was worthy of friendships.

 

You see, he decreased so I could increase.  Do you understand how that works now?  You give up your fleshly ideas and desires to embrace God’s ideas and desires. When you do, it not only helps you but it helps others as well. Now my todays are filled with love and joy.

 

So let me ask you this question, how much do you love the Lord? __________________

 

Do you love Him enough to give up something you want for something He wants? _____

 

Do you love Him enough to stop laughing at people that don’t dress like you, talk like you, act like you, or do what you do? _______________________________________

 

Do you love Him enough to give up the money you were given for your birthday to a child who doesn’t have a coat for winter? ____________________________________

 

Do you love the Lord enough to not cheat on a test, lie to your parents, skip school, or clean your room? _____________________________________________________

 

You may be wondering how all those things have anything to do with loving God, well it’s like this, if you love the Lord with all your heart, then your heart will love others just like God’s does.  That means you will not laugh at others or make fun of them.  It means that if you love the Lord with your wallet, you will be happy to give to others in need. It means that if you love the Lord with your actions you will not cheat on a test, skip school and you will clean your room.  You will obey your parents and speak with respect toward them, your teachers and others in authority. It means you will show respect to all people.

 

It may not seem too easy to do what God wants you to, but He will help you. God is always with you, He was with you yesterday, He is with you right now, and He will be with you tomorrow to help you remember His ways are the best.   

Write a letter to the Lord and ask Him to help you put your wants aside and ask Him to reveal His wants for your life.  He’ll do it because He is the God of yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. Remember that when you sing.