Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 15
Wednesday


CHECK YOUR
ATTITUDE

READ:
John 3:22-31
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He must increase,
but I must decrease.
__John 3:30
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A music professor with a well-trained voice usually sang the major male solo parts n the choir of a large church. A young man named Bob who had no training sometimes took a few shorter solos. As the choir director prepared for the Christmas canatata, she felt that Bob's voice and style made him a natural for the lead role. However, she didn't know how she could give it to him without offending the older man.

Her anxiety was unnecessary. The professor had the same thoughts as she did, and he told her that Bob should take the part. He continued to sing faithfully in the chorus and was a source of much encouragement to Bob.

People who can set aside selfish ambition and genuinely seek the good of others have an attitude that pleases God. Do you remember how John the Baptist reacted when the crowds left him and began following Jesus? He said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

What did John the Baptist and the music professor have in common? they were able to set aside "selfish ambition." They were happy to see others elevated above themselves when it was for the common good. Can the same be said about us? __Herb Vander Lugt
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``````````````````````This is the highest learning,````````````````
``````````````````````The hardest and the best__````````````````
`````````````````````From self to keep still turning````````````````
``````````````````And honor all the rest. __MacDonald````````````
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When we forget about ourselves,
we do things others will remember.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ John 3:22-31************

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 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.

31 "He who comes from
above is above all; he who
is of the earth is earthly and
speaks of the earth. He who
comes from heaven is above
all."

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

Authentic humility (the attitude of John is John 3:30) is characterized
by a servant's heart. When we follow Christ's example of servanthood
(Phil. 2:5-7), our lives are filled with joy. As Leo Tolstoy wrote: "Life is
a place of service. Joy can be real only if people look upon their life
as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and
their personal happiness. _Dennis Fisher