He Must Increase
He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30
John the Baptist had every earthly reason to protect his ministry. Crowds had come to him first. His disciples were worried: “Rabbi… look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him” (John 3:26).
John’s answer is one of the most freeing sentences in Scripture: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Notice the word must. This is not resignation; it is delight in God’s design. John compares himself to the friend of the bridegroom, who “rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete” (John 3:29). His joy was not diminished when the crowds left him for Jesus — it was completed.
Every gift we have — every word we write, every song we sing, every platform we’re given — exists to point past itself to Christ. The moment it starts pointing to us, it has failed at the only job it had.
For meditation today:
- In what area of life am I quietly hoping to increase, where Christ should?
- Ask God for John’s joy: gladness whenever Jesus gets the attention, even at your expense.
- “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31).