Fear, Life, Ministry

I Must Decrease? Hold on!

I’m not exactly sure about how to start this post. I’m at a loss for words. What’s the right way to start a confession? How do you do “transparency” correctly?

There are aspirations–certain ideals–that Christians hold to and attempt to live up to. There are verses that are waved as banners while arriving at some level of spiritual maturity. John gives us one of these verses.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

It all sounds good. It somehow fits into our Christian cookie jars and makes it onto the front of our refrigerators. However, it’s really not that simple. I experienced it once…and it drove me to bitterness.

Exodus, Faithfulness, Fear

“What is that in your hand?”

 

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.'” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” – Exodus 4:1-2

 

A lot of doubt and a lot of fear. Especially, for a man who is encountering God for the first time. A man who most of his adult life was spent running in fear. After all, that’s why Moses retreated to Midian. Why should now be any different?