AS CHRIST INCREASES, WE DECREASE

This morning, I found myself in an hour-long prayer and scripture-reading session, asking God for today's topic. There were so many candidates, for the Bible is incredibly rich with a plethora of themes worthy of reflection. After searching diligently for one such theme, here is where I landed.


As Christ increases, we decrease. This is a familiar theme for us. We echo John the Baptist's words: "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30) The question is this: "How do I enable Christ to increase in power and control over my life, and I decrease in the same?"


At the highest level, there must be action and inaction taken for Christ's influence over our lives to increase and our flesh's influence to decrease. Reflecting on James 2:17, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Likewise, the inaction I need to take is around running my own life, acting in my own self-interests, and catering to my fleshly desires.


Here are some actions we can take. Please join me in taking them. But also remember, there is also the inaction of self-serving, selfish behavior to also "take."


ACTIONS TO INCREASE CHRIST'S INFLUENCE OVER OUR LIVES

1. Daily Devotion: Set aside specific time each day for Bible reading and prayer to nurture your relationship with Christ. "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." - Joshua 1:8
   
2. Obedience: Commit to promptly obeying God's commands as they become clear to you. "If you love me, keep my commands." - John 14:15
   
3. Service: Actively seek opportunities to serve others in your community, reflecting Christ's servant-heart. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:28
   
4. Worship: Engage in regular communal worship to honor God and remember His sovereignty. "Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25
   
5. Fasting: Occasionally fast to discipline the body and focus your spirit on God. "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." - Matthew 6:17-18
   
6. Stewardship: Be a good steward of the resources God has given you, using them for His glory. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10
   
7. Fellowship: Invest in relationships with other believers to encourage spiritual growth. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17
   
   
   

ACTIONS TO DECREASE BEING LED BY OUR FLESH

1. Humility: Practice humility, recognizing that every victory is through Christ, not ourselves. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." - James 4:10
   
2. Self-Control: Cultivate the fruit of self-control to resist temptations that lead us away from God's will. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23
   
3. Repentance: Regularly examine your heart and repent for sins to maintain a pure heart before God. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9
   
4. Contentment: Learn to be content in all circumstances, reducing the pursuit of worldly desires. "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." - Philippians 4:11-12
   
5. Mindfulness: Be mindful of what you consume through media and conversations, focusing on what is edifying. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8
   
6. Simplicity: Embrace a simpler lifestyle that allows more room for God and less for material distractions. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" - Hebrews 13:5
   
7. Silence and Solitude: Spend time in silence and solitude to listen for God's voice rather than the world's. "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." - Luke 5:16
   
   
   

CONCLUSION
In our quest to let Christ increase in our lives, these actions serve as tangible steps we can take. They are not merely tasks to check off but invitations to a deeper communion with God. As we decrease and Christ increases in us, our lives become a testament to the transforming power of the gospel. May we all do this. Amen.


Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. 
November 09, 2023
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent "Conversations with Christ" blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. Note: All scriptures quoted are from the NIV.
If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.