John 3: 27-30 “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
It’s amazing to me that in today’s society, we try so hard to find joy in anything and everything. People will spend their entire lives searching for purpose and contentment in things that only offer temporal satisfaction. We are in a day in age that young people do not want to grow up because we have showed them by our lifestyles that it is not worth it.
Many will get up in the morning, go to work, come home, go to bed, and do it all over again; day after day, year after year. Their daily lives lack the purpose that God has intended for them to live. Our young people see this lifestyle centered around the dollar, centered around a job; and every once in a blue moon, we get a week’s vacation; and they do not want this! There is a generation being raised that desire all of the freedoms, and liberty of growing up; they just don’t want to responsibility. Why should they? We have given them nothing to live for, but themselves.
Statistics show that by the time today’s young people turn 18, 70% of them will have drank alcohol! That is astonishing! They are looking for things to fill a void in their lives, and we have failed to give them the true purpose of our existence.
What is our purpose? Where do we fulfill our joy? How do our lives matter? We see it in John 3:27-30. John the Baptist reiterated that he was not the Christ, but one that was sent before to prepare the way. John says here that he is the friend of the Bridegroom (Jesus), and that he rejoices in hearing His voice! What was it that gave joy, and purpose to such a man of God? IT WAS JESUS!
John’s joy was fulfilled in Christ! The truth of the matter is that there is no satisfaction, joy or purpose outside of the Lord Jesus Christ! Like John, we must prepare the way for Christ to reign in the hearts of people. If we are to live a life worth living, and live a life fulfilling God’s purpose, we must be about the Father’s business! Our joy can only be fulfilled in Jesus Christ!
Lastly, John the Baptist makes a profound statement; completely contrary to our way of thinking! “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This from “the man!” Don’t you know who John the Baptist was?! He was the big shot preacher! People thought he was Elijah, a prophet of God. Some even asked if he was Christ! John’s answer was this, “I am not He, I am not even worthy to loose the straps on his shoes!”
For our joy to be fulfilled, for our lives to have purpose and meaning; Jesus must increase, and we must decrease! Stop chasing vain satisfaction. Stop searching for fulfillment in this temporal world. We must decide that Christ is our fulfillment, and teach the next generation that only He can give true joy!
Stephen Underwood
Acts 20:24
www.stephenunderwood.net
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