“Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you have testified – behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” (vs25-26)

We don’t mind that all glory goes to Christ and people are following Him. We want Him exalted, because He is the Only Begotten Son, God’s equal, and He is the Savior that God sent into the world. We give Him no higher honor than right worship and the glory of His praise. The church, contrary to Catholic opinion, has only ONE that is worshiped, the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we have Him, then we have the Father: we have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:1-4).

Let others know that your life is about Him, and when they go to Him, we are glad. We don’t minister to make ourselves great, but as people devoted to God our Savior, we serve to make others see, love, and enjoy Him. Praise and obedience are His right. He is the reason we are saved and carried to heaven.

Secondly, our JOY is seeing Christ exalted (John 3:27-30). We read, “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 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.” We get MORE pleasure out of seeing people saved than we could ever get by serving ourselves. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”, and it is far better to live for others to know God than us. Grace gives us JOY in God’s will and in living for the Son.

Our deacon baptized his daughter on Sunday, and seeing them hugging afterward gave me more joy than any selfish ambition. She is opposed, as all believers must be, but she’s determined and comforted by grace. Her love for God reveals that our lives have meaning, and we are full and encouraged.

Finally, if you believe on the Son, then you have eternal life, and if you don’t believe, then wrath is on you now (John 3:31-36). We read, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but he wrath of God abides on him”. Many think that God smiles upon their sin because they aren’t as bad as others, because they are sincere, and even very religious. Yet, all of this means nothing, if you don’t believe on the Son, because He’s the Only Savior. John the Baptist said, “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… and what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Sprit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” The gospel is God’s way, or there is no way. If you’re outside of Christ, like souls outside of the Old Testament cities of refuge, then you are in danger (Numb 35). God is not smiling upon you, answering your prayers, and working things out for your good. You have no blood atonement, no sacrifice for your sins, and you have no hope in God until Christ is trusted.