WHAT IS THE MAGNITUDE OF JESUS IN YOUR LIFE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
He must become greater; I must become less.
(John 3:30)

MEDITATION:
One of the unique things about the way God created us is:
    He allows us to make our own choices in life.
God did not make us so that He could be the puppet-master
and pull our strings. He did not want us to be akin to robots
that are programmed for everything. We wouldn’t want to
have a friend of that type, would we? And, we would not
want to be able to make every decision for someone else.

Now, considering how He made us with a freedom of choice,
how are we doing? Do we want everything our way and when
it doesn’t happen, we experience stress in our life. When other
people want things their way, it can also create stress for us.
Anytime there is a clash of selfishness between two people,
there is stress.

‘Hypochondria’ is a mental condition (sometimes referred to
as an ‘illness anxiety disorder’ or ‘health anxiety’) that can be
the cause of stress in the life of a person.
    It involves worrying excessively that you are, or may
    become seriously ill, even though there may not be
    any physical symptoms. It can cause one to believe
    that normal body sensations, or minor symptoms
    are signs of a severe illness, even when a thorough
    medical exam doesn’t reveal any serious medical
    condition. It can create extreme anxiety when body
    sensations, such as muscle twitching or fatigue, are
    present. It can cause one to believe they are signs of
    a specific, serious illness. This anxiety can cause severe
    distress that disrupts one’s life. It can cause a person to
    have feelings of melancholy and/or depression.
        ‘Melancholy’ is a gloomy state of mind; becoming
        sad and unhappy; a type of sadness that persists
        without any obvious reasons.

These conditions can create stress in our lives, and cause us
to develop a type of self-pity and self-centeredness, because
we become concerned about ourselves to the point of having
little, or no concerns about the struggles of others.

Many of us can suffer from a case of spiritual nearsightedness.
In other words, we can have a tendency to consider only the
things which have a direct influence and impact on our own lives.
Our self-centeredness can not only suppress our own enjoyment
of living, but it can also inhibit or destroy joy in the lives of others.
This is not the way God wants us to be, nor is it the lifestyle Jesus
expects of His disciples (those who are following Him).

We are to live lives that flow out to others, as opposed to drawing
everything into ourselves. When Jesus spoke to the rich young
ruler, He was concerned about the man’s selfishness.
    Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your
    possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
    in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
    (Matthew 19:21)

Since He reads the hearts of men, we can see that Jesus was more
concerned about the ruler being released from his selfishness, than
He was about how others would benefit from the wealth he would
give to the poor. Jesus knew the devastation that selfishness could
have on the life and personality of the young man. He also knew
how putting others first could inject a new joy into his life.

It is a lesson for believers as well. When is the last time you (or I)
have sacrificed your desires in order to encourage or help someone
else, without expecting anything in return? Does everything you do
and think revolve around you and your desires, or do you follow the
example of Jesus and reach out to others?

When Jesus saw Peter and Andrew fishing as a means of providing
for their own needs, He invited them to discover a new life of doing
things for others.
    As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw
    two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.
    They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
    “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish
    for people.”
    (Matthew 4:18-19)

Whenever we put Jesus in His rightful place in our lives,
we will replace selfishness with an attitude of giving. Why?
Because we are relinquishing more of our lives to Jesus
(the greatest Giver). Jesus will gain more control of our
thoughts and actions whenever we voluntarily give them
to Him.

Instead of trying to incorporate Jesus into the our way of living,
we need to delight in immersing ourselves into the lifestyle He
desires for us. Does that mean we will become robots? Certainly
not! It means we have made the decision to become less so that
He could become greater.

ACTION:
How much influence does the Lord have on your thoughts,
habits, desires, and actions? Is He more in control now than
when you first committed your life to Him? Is he becoming
greater, and are you becoming less?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You know unequivocally what is best for me.
I know that my thoughts and decisions could never compare to
Yours. If I am to allow You to be more active in my life, I realize
that I have to start becoming less selfish and self-centered. Teach
me the joy of doing things for others. Help me to be more sensitive
to the needs of those around me and to be aware of how I can lift
their spirits by a kind word or deed. Show me how to become an
encourager, and especially to those dedicated to serving You. I
pray that You will help me to be more willing to sacrifice my
desires in order to be of service to others. When I can do that,
I will know that You are becoming greater in my life and I am
becoming less.”

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