Sunday 2 Jan 2022

January 2: John 1:6-8

Key Verse: John 1:8
He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Devotion:
God did not send the most important, richest, most powerful or most intelligent people to spread word of Jesus’ coming. He used the prophets many years before, whom many chose to ignore in the end. He chose the right people at the right time to make sure the right people got to hear the truth when they needed it most.

When God chose John, it was not a choice of a wise man who everybody looked up to, but a man who would choose to live outside the city in squalid conditions; but a man who was willing to tell the truth about the Messiah who had arrived. John was only a few months older than Jesus, so grew up at the same time as Jesus was growing up. This was a man who chose to obey God and not man.

Many well known preachers, priests and other church leaders tend to become well known for what they are doing (or, sometimes for what they do not do) When they become well known, they do what they can to become even more well known. The churches they build up grow in size and prosperity and make them even more well known.

These words remind us we should not seek to become the most well known person who can lead a church, but to simply obey God and be a witness for Christ. What do we gain is we build up a church containing hundreds of people unless we are effective at telling them about God. What does God gain is we are standing in the spotlight? Who are we getting the people to praise. John came to be a man who always pointed people to Christ and to Christ’s ways. John looked not for personal gain but for glory for God through Christ!

Points to Ponder:
How do you see yourself in the church?

How does God see you in the church?