JOHN 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.”
It isn’t far away. Really it isn’t. There are small signs of it even though mounds of dirty snow still occupy spots in many parking lots. I am referring to spring and the “resurrection of nature” from the deadness of winter. The flowers are eager to burst forth and the sweet fragrances of spring will be upon us.
The Christian life is about fragrances too. In writing to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul would pen these words – But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume (2 Corinthians 2:14). This was noteworthy because the Corinthian church was presenting a “fragrance” of itself, and it wasn’t sweet smelling. The odor was the type that makes a person want to hold their noses. A church and every Christian is to put off the sweet-smelling fragrance or perfume of Christ’s character – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
For the Corinthians, and I hope not any of us, the opposite was present. The ugly stench of selfishness, of placing personal preferences and causing divisions in the body of Christ – I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). These believers were far away from today’s scripture. They were increasing themselves and making Christ decrease. And their reputation suffered. So will ours if we are making much of ourselves and very little of the Lord Jesus. So, how do we prevent the stench of selfishness from our lives? It is better to focus on the positive than the negative, and the positive is by daily, and throughout the day, remember two things. First, who indwells us. Don’t forget this. The Christian life is about union in Christ and the more we recognize His Presence, the more He increases, and we decrease. Here is a key truth to put to memory and apply daily – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). All Christian living rises and falls on the truth of our union with Christ. When the ugly stench of selfishness tempts to rise in our hearts, stop and remember, “Christ in us is the power to defeat self – each time the words me, my, and mine want to take center stage in our lives”.
A second application to ensure Christ increases, we decrease, and the sweet perfume of His character flows in our conversations and relationships is to realize who we represent all the time. We are not our own. We have been purchased by Christ and no longer live for self. Here is another truth to put to memory to help us toward the goal of representing Christ well – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). May the Lord help us spread the sweet perfume of His character everywhere we go. In fact, let’s pray for each other along that line. It is His will for us!
PRAYER: “Father, may I learn to make much of Your Son and nothing of myself.”
QUOTE: “Jesus must increase, and we must decrease. This defines the whole of the Christian life.”