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Friday, May 18, 2018

Popularity


He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: Popularity
Key Principle: We live for Christ, no longer for ourselves.
Key Application: Allow Christ to be known and seen in you!
Main point of the Passage: Popularity of Christ over our own popularity
Illustration: John’s Attitude
Exhortation: Dare to risk your own reputation for the advancing of the name of Christ.

Everybody wants to be popular for different reasons, especially for good cause. Who among you does not want to have a hundred likes in a Facebook post? What Christian ministry does not want thousands of email subscriber?

If anyone should be popular, if anyone should reach out, John the Baptist was the right man. For he was the chosen voice to herald the way for the Messiah. Our Lord said of him as the greatest prophet ever born. Yet he did not want to be popular. In fact, He wanted to decrease his popularity. John was captivated by the greatness of Christ. He wants Christ to be popular over himself. He found his identity, meaning, and joy – everything in Christ.
What is our identity, Christians? The Scripture says we are dead to self. We are no longer ourselves, but Christ that lives in us. We live for Christ, no longer for ourselves. Are we not supposed to diminish our own images, and let the image of Christ shines in us? Are we not supposed to say, “Let me decrease, and let Christ increase in me!” like John?
Dare to risk your own reputation for the advancing of the name of Christ. Also, next time in successes or achievements, practice to speak more about the providence of Christ than your own contributions. Certainly, you do not want to compete with God for glory. May Christ be known and seen through us!