July 2007 Tidings Article
Summer is a time of many things for many people. For some it is a time of relaxation as they strike up the BBQ or head to the lake. For others, summer is a time filled with church activities, sporting events and summer jobs. For most, it is probably a mixture of both. For the Jackson family this summer has been a time of major transition. After six years, Tricia has hung up her librarian glasses and become a stay at home mom. After twenty years, I have finally finished formal education and have begun a new job. And after three years of living near family and dear friends in St. Louis, we as a family have moved nine hours north to Green Bay.
While all of these transitions are signs that God is blessing us, it is also a season in which He exposes more of the sinful motivations of our heart.
I’m embarrassed to confess that as I meet new people in Green Bay, (that probably includes you!) I am often trying to win their approval. I want to prove to them that I am capable to be the Director of Family Ministries and that I deserve to be followed. As I struggle with these motivations of my heart, I am reminded of one particular class at Covenant Seminary in which our professor shared with us what God had been teaching him in the book of John.
Dr. Skylar shared how when John the Baptist encounters Jesus he exclaims with joy, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” The next day John saw Jesus again and shouted, “Look, the Lamb of God!” Hearing this, both of John’s disciples (the only two that were with him at the time), left and followed Jesus. Many days later, John’s remaining disciples reported to him that “the one you testified about (Jesus) is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” As if to say, ‘your going to lose all your disciples to Jesus…what are you going to do about it?!’ In response John confesses, “I am not the Christ” and then tells his disciples, “He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less.”
At the end of his devotional Dr. Skylar asked us to make a public confession by repeating John 1:20. For five minutes we awkwardly stood up one by one and repeated the confession that John the Baptist freely gave to all who asked. Unconvinced that this had sunk into our hearts, Dr. Skylar had us repeat the task a second time. Again, we went around the classroom and confessed to God, to each other and even to ourselves, that “I am not the Christ!”
Now you’re probably thinking, “Dan, I know you’re not the Christ.” I agree, that is plain to see, but if I understood that in my deepest heart, I would probably not be tempted to try and gain my own following.
What about you? Do you know that you are not the Christ? Be weird with me for a second. Say out loud to yourself (maybe even a few times) “I am not the Christ.” Go ahead, let your family overhear you say it; we can explain it to them later.
As you meditate on those words, what is your honest reaction? Do you seize up in fear as you recognize that you are not in control of your own destiny? Are you disappointed to find out that you are incapable of the work God has called you to? Do you feel a bit insecure because you are unworthy of being followed or worshiped?
As we see from John the Baptist, a true encounter with Jesus allows us to breathe a sigh of relief because Christ alone controls our destiny, because Christ alone transforms the work He has called us to and because Christ alone is worthy of being followed and worshiped.
Encounter Jesus for yourself today and trust Him with all of your life. And as you meet new people, direct them to Christ because He is the only One that is worthy of being followed.
“I am not the Christ,” but Jesus is. Praise God.
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