Chemotherapy has a cumulative effect. For that reason some
side effects get worse as you go through your treatment. Other symptoms remain
for a while after treatment stops. Likewise, the gospel must have a cumulative
effect.
“They came to John and
said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the
Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going
to him.” To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them
from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but
am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who
attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he
hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less”
(John 3:26-30, NIV)
How do you get there? Who are the ones that are able to say,
"He must become greater and I must become less”?
- Those who know that God’s plan is for Jesus to be at the center.
John the Baptist explained to his disciples that there was nothing to
worry about, that everything came from heaven, that the plan was being
fulfilled. When the gospel has a cumulative effect we can correctly interpret
the circumstances. Instead of competition, frustrated plans,
impossibilities, dead ends and closed doors we see the grace of God ... we
can’t receive anything unless He grants it. We see Jesus occupying a
central place. That's the plan.
- Those who listen and value His voice more than other voices. Every
day my voice wants to compete with the voice of Jesus. The voice of my
fears, the voice of my desires, the voice of my priorities, the voice of
my doubts, the voice of my impatience, the voice of my distress, the voice
of my self-righteousness, etc. But the gospel has a cumulative effect if I listen
and find delight in His voice above everything else. The voice of God is
revealed in His Word.
- Those who know that our supreme joy is for Him to become greater
and get the glory. I really want to live for many years to come and
every day when I see the faces of my husband and my kids I’m reminded of
very important reasons to stay here. But I have been confronted. If I just
want to live for myself and my family I’m not experiencing the side
effects of the gospel. The ultimate
joy is to live when Jesus is becoming greater and we are becoming less…even
if this means having cancer.
This chemotherapy cycle left me with no hair, no nails, a
few pounds less, and more aches. But it also left a big challenge, am I one of
those that are able to say “He must become greater and I must become less”?
I leave you with one of my favorite songs this season: Jesus
at the Center (Darlene Zschech/Israel Houghton)
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