#160 LESS OF SELF, MORE OF CHRIST, ALL FOR GOD 9-19-26
The Christian life is not about making ourselves bigger. It is about making Christ bigger. We live in a world that constantly tells us to promote ourselves, protect ourselves, build ourselves, and put ourselves first. But Jesus calls us in another direction. He calls us to surrender. He calls us to humility. He calls us to a life where His name matters more than ours, His will matters more than ours, and His glory matters more than ours.
John the Baptist understood this when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). That is more than a statement about John. It is a beautiful description of the Christian life. Christ increases. Self decreases. His voice becomes louder than our desires. His purposes become greater than our plans. His glory becomes more important than our recognition.
There is freedom in those words. We do not have to spend our lives trying to prove ourselves, defend ourselves, impress others, or build a name for ourselves. We can simply point people to Jesus. “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). When self moves from the throne, Christ can take His rightful place. And when Christ takes His rightful place, life begins to find its proper order.
LESS OF SELF. Self wants control. Self wants recognition. Self wants its own way. But Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Self-denial is not self-destruction. It is surrender. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The cross teaches us that we were never meant to be our own lord.
MORE OF CHRIST. Christianity is not simply about becoming a better version of ourselves. It is about becoming more like Jesus. “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Christ becomes our example, our hope, our strength, and our life. “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). The more we see Him, the more we desire Him. The more we know Him, the more we want to follow Him.
ALL FOR GOD. When self decreases and Christ increases, our entire life becomes an offering to God. Paul pleaded with believers to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Not part of us. Not Sunday only. Not when it is convenient. All of us. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
Less of self.
More of Christ.
All for God.
That is the direction of a life surrendered to Jesus. And perhaps the greatest prayer we can pray is simply this: “Lord, take away whatever keeps me from You, fill me with Christ, and use every part of my life for Your glory.”
________________
Father, decrease self within us and increase Christ within us. Take away our pride, our selfish ambitions, our desire for recognition, and anything that keeps us from fully surrendering to You. Teach us to lay down our own will and gladly embrace Your will. Teach us to surrender when surrender is difficult, to trust when we cannot see the way, and to follow when we do not know where the road will lead. Give us hearts that love what You love and lives that reflect the character of Jesus. Let our words honor Him, our choices please Him, our hands serve others, and our feet go wherever You lead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BDD
