By the Rev. Maxell Moody

Is it your desire that the Lord Jesus Christ gain in the number of people who worship Him and manifest His character and attributes?

How about you? Do you so live? We first address the “how” of you and me.

How can Jesus in crease through us?

The apostle John answered that question very clearly.

He said, “He must increase, I must decrease”.

Of course the first step must be repentance for our sin and rebellion against our God, accompanied by faith in God’s Son and His death on the cross as our sacrifice. Until this happens, we will not decrease and Christ will not increase, for He is not within us.

Second, we address the question, “How do we manifest that

He, Jesus, has increased and we have decrease?”

Let me preface the answer to this question with the following; “It is not I, but Christ (His Spirit) in me which brings about these manifestations.”

He gets all the glory! Yes, it is Christ in me which makes the following things happen.

• We no longer hold grudges but freely forgive those who have wronged us, even as Christ forgave us.

• We love others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Even those we disagree with, we love; and pray for their salvation if they are non-believers.

• We leave vengeance up to God. This does not mean that we won’t protect our love ones from harm with all the energy our God supplies.

• God’s Word and will for our life becomes all important. We value and desire to keep His commandments. Of course, we all rejoice in His promises. But how many of us understand that every promise is contingent on obedience in some way? Were grace comes in is that God supplies the means to obey through the Holy Spirit, Who indwells every born again believer.

5. Our faith in Him increases, and self-pride is daily crucified.

This is not the only way we may manifest that He has increased and we have decreased, but if these are true in our lives, we will enjoy

the favor of our God.

May our motto truly be, “He must increase, I must decrease.” Amen.