1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 min)
2) Scripture Reading: John 3:22-30 (click to listen)
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
3) Devotional
Experiencing loss confronts us with our humanity and our limits. We quickly realize we are not in control of our lives. God is. We are simply creatures, not the Creator.
Consider the example of John the Baptist. Crowds that formerly followed John for baptism switched their allegiances once Jesus began his ministry. They began leaving John to follow Jesus. Some of John's followers were upset about this dramatic turn of events. They complained to him, "Everyone is going with him" (John 3:26).
John understood limits and replied "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven" (John 3:27). he was able to accept his limits, his humanity, and his declining popularity and say, "He must increase, I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Getting off our thrones and joining the rest of humanity is a must for spiritual maturity. We are not the center of the universe. The universe does not revolve around us.
Yet a part of us hates limits. We won't accept them. This is one the primary reasons grieving our loss' biblically is such an indispensable part of spiritual maturity.
Embracing our limits humbles us like little else.
4) Questions to Consider
Name one or two limits God has placed in your life today as a gift.
5) Prayer
Lord, forgive me for the arrogance that sees interruptions to my plans as alien invasions. Forgive me for constantly trying to do more than you intend with my life. And help me to be like John the Baptist, embracing my losses and respecting my limits. In Jesus' name. Amen.
6) Conclude with Silence (2 min)
- today's devotional comes from "Begin the Journey with the Daily Office" by Pete Scazzero
