“One of my neighbors,” Stan commented one morning, “who tends to be a little overweight seems to constantly shift from one diet to another.”
“Trying to keep his weight under control,” I commented. “Good for him. Seems like too many of us are overweight and it’s not healthy.”
“You’re right about that,” Stan replied, “and earlier this morning I was reading and thinking about what John the Baptist said about the diet for disciples.”
“A diet for disciples? John the Baptist was talking about a diet? What kind of diet, locusts and honey?”
“No,” Stan replied. “What I was looking at was not exactly about what to do to lose some weight, but it seems to me he sure was talking about losing something else.”
“What’s that?”
“John the Baptist is recorded as saying that in regard to himself and his life, he must decrease while Jesus becomes more important. Seems to me that it’s the same thing for me and for all of us who are pursuing discipleship.”
“Oh,” I said, “we are to decrease, while Jesus increases. That sounds kind of like the heart of discipleship.”
“In what way?” Stan asked.
“Well,” I replied, “I am to decrease by denying myself, while Jesus is increasing in my life when I take up what He has for me to take up. As well, He certainly does continue to increase in my life as I choose to follow Him wherever He wants to lead.”
“Good point,” Stan said. “And it seems to me that such a disciple diet may be just what all of us need every single day.”
“And every hour and every minute,” I replied.
“Amen, my friend.”
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Bible verses to consider:
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 10:38.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of life eternally with you when my time here is completed. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth of your free and gracious provision through the finished work of the cross. Thank you, too, for the truth of discipleship, of how I am to decrease while you increase in my life. I confess that too often I do not choose to decrease and I do not choose for you to increase, all because that is what I want to do apart from you. Please forgive that foolishness. And please, Father, help me follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, decrease and that you do, in fact, increase in my life. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you decreased and allowed God to increase in your life for eternal purposes so you know you will spend eternity in His presence when it’s time? If no, why? If you are a Christian, how are you doing with continually decreasing self so that Jesus can increase in your life? If you sense the need for change in that regard, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 