January 18
Bible Reading: John 3:22-29
John 3:27, “John answered, ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.’”
I say this as a former pastor who knows something about such temptations. Sometimes, we pastors can get jealous of those with bigger ministries. Even church members can act as there is some kind of race between churches to be bigger and better than everyone else. But we are not in a competition. We should instead be thankful for whatever ministry God has blessed us with, no matter its size and scope.
John’s disciples were concerned because the numbers of those following John were going down, while the numbers of Jesus’ followers were going up (John 3:26). Though they were concerned, John was not, and instead articulated an important truth that has relevance to us all. John understood that “a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” His ministry had been given to him by God. It was God’s to manage. God called him to it and equipped and sustained him through it. He would continue to do so until such time that God called John to something else.
It was as John MacArthur explained: “God had sovereignly granted him his ministry; if God now chose to change or end that ministry, John was content. Everything among God’s servants, including popular ministry, is a gracious gift from God, not something to which a person is entitled. Therefore, there is no place for jealousy, as John’s self-effacing reply indicated.”
John MacArthur
John has set a good example for us. All that we have has been given to us by God. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “What do you have that you did not receive” (1 Corinthians 4:7)? Have you been saved? Indwelt by the Spirit? Instructed by the Spirit in the truth? Gifted and equipped for ministry? Led and sustained by the Spirit? Encouraged in fellowship? Granted comfort and courage and strength by the Lord? Whatever good thing you have has come to you by God (James 1:17). God prepared ahead of time even the good deeds you do (Ephesians 2:10).
It is all by grace, and we should therefore be ever thankful for the privilege of serving, in whatever way God might call us to! That’s not to say we should not seek to do more, broadening our ministry efforts in seeking to please God. But our motivation must be to honor Jesus, not to outdo others that we might garner attention to ourselves.
“Our gifts and opportunities come from God, and He alone must get the glory.” – Warren Wiersbe
I’LL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO
It may not be on the mountain’s height,
Or over the stormy sea;
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls
To paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
I’ll go where You want me to go.
Refrain:
I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what you want me to be.
Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now, in the paths of sin
Some wand’rer whom I should seek.
O Saviour, if Thou wilt be my Guide,
Tho’ dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet,
I’ll say what you want me to say. (Refrain)
There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide,
Where I may labor thro’ life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.
So, trusting my all to Thy care,
I know Thou lovest me!
I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere,
I’ll be what you want me to be. (Refrain)
LookingtoJesus 