Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 16
Tuesday


THE REAL HERO

READ:
John 3:22-30
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He must increase,
but I must decrease.
__John 3:30
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Louis B. Neumiller was known for his humility, integrity, and commitment to quality. As president of the Caterpillar Tractor Company from 1941-54, he led the manufacturer of earth-moving equipment through the challenges of World War 11 into global expansion. In the book In Their Time: The Greatest Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century, authors mayo and Nohria describe Neumilers' leadership as "success without fanfare." His mark of greatness, they note, was that he took his identity out of the business and "let his company become a hero
instead of himself."

We see the same quality of selflessness in John the Baptist, the dynamic preacher who repeatedly affirmed his mission of paving the way for the Messiah. When John's followers became concerned that Jesus was baptizing people and crowds were following Him, John replied: "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' ...He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:28-30).

As followers of Christ, are we lifting Him up instead of seeking honor for ourselves? Rather than being disappointed when our contribution is unnoticed, we should be glad because our highest privilege is to magnify the Lord. He's the hero!

Honoring Him is the mark of greatness. __David McCasland
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```````A PRAYER: Lord, teach us to be humble. May our desire```````
````````be that You be known, honored, loved, and exalted in`````````
``````````every thought and action--above ourselves. Amen.````````
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The great Christian is one who is small enough
to let God be great in his life.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ John 3:22-30**************

22 After these things Jesus
and His disciples came into
the land of Judea, and there
He remained with them and
baptized. 23 Now John also
was baptizing in Aenon
near Salim, because there
was much water there. And
they came and were
baptized. 24 For John had
not yet been thrown into
prison.

25 Then there arose a
dispute between some of
John's disciples and the
Jews about purification.

26 And they came to John
and said to him, "Rabbi, He
who was with you beyond
the Jordan, to whom you
have testified--behold, He
is baptizing, and all are
coming to Him!"

27 John answered and said,
"A man can receive nothing
unless it has been given to
him from heaven. 28 You
yourselves bear me witness,
that I said, 'I am not the
Christ,' but, 'I have been
sent before Him.' 29 He who
has the bride is the
bridegroom; but the friend
of the bridegroom, who
stands and hears him,
rejoices greatly because of
the bridegroom's voice.
Therefore this joy of mine
is fulfilled. 30 He must
increase, but I must
decrease.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says this about the work of John
the Baptist: "It was the function of [the friend of the bridegroom]
to act as go-between in making the marriage arrangements. His joy
was vicarious--participation in the happiness of the groom as a new
family was formed. John's work was done in launching the work
of Jesus. He could baptize only with water, not with the spirit, He
could announce the coming of the kingdom but not enter into it
himself." _DENNIS FISHER