21-day challenge Day #3: John 3

Read: John 3

My Key Verse: John 3:30

My Reflections: (I’m doing the unthinkable…I’m skipping over John 3:1-21, possibly the most theologically rich passage in the bible, definitely containing the most well know verse of scripture. It’s just a little too familiar.)

I write this less that 24 hours after reading about a church in Atlanta that is crumbling because of sex scandals, resulting from a culture of “pastor worship” that was created there since the 1960’s.

Complete honesty time: I struggle with the need to be appreciated…to be impressive…to be valued. I understand where it comes from. (picture me on a counselor’s couch and him saying, “Tell me about your relationship with your father…) I’d like to think that it doesn’t surface all of the time, but I’m sure to those who know me best, who work with me and/or live with me, this is no great revelation.

I should have a life-size poster of John the Baptist in my office with the caption from verse 30 above it, “He must become greater; I must become less.” If there has ever been a mantra that I should start my day with, it’s this: He must increase and I must decrease (that’s right…I’m rollin’ KJV).

In the previous verse, John made it clear that “the bride belongs to the bridegroom.” As I follow my calling, there’s no room for self-importance…there’s no room for a Corbett Fan Club…I don’t need a bigger podium to stand upon. I just need to lift up Jesus; to lift up his name; to point people to him. My job is to make the name of Jesus famous, and to humble myself constantly so that no one is ever confused about who is the focus.

My Prayer: God, you know me, you made me, you gave me every gift and talent that I possess. You have shaped me into the man that I am. Speak to my heart every single day and show me my place. If there is a place of influence that I'm to occupy, then Lord help me to grow in humility and grace as I fill that role. Help me see your vision for my life and to walk in step with your Spirit...not lagging behind, not running ahead. I don't want to be controlled by self-doubt or insecurity, or by their cousins, pride and overconfidence. I just want to be the man you created me to be and to enjoy the blessing of being a part of the church, the bride of Jesus...your vehicle for reconciling the whole world to you. In the name of the one and only Savior, the one and only Lord, Jesus Christ...Amen.