Success.
We all want to succeed and be successful. That’s not wrong. You should be proud when you achieve your dreams.
However, are you just as happy when other people succeed? Are you proud of your coworker’s achievements or your friend’s accomplishments? Can you honestly bless and support them or are you secretly stewing with frustration, anger, and discontentment?
A mark of a true Christian is being happy for other people’s success. John the Baptist is a great example. John the Baptist’s ministry was exploding. He was growing popular with his baptisms in the desert. People loved his sermons on repentance. He had a megachurch in the desert. However, a new guy shows up and starts getting even more popular than John. John’s disciples are afraid of this new ministry from Jesus and they want John to do something about it (John 3:26). What would you do in this situation? How do you handle your coworker or friend when their success overshadows you?
Instead of listening to his friends and disciples, John does the opposite. John the Baptist celebrates Jesus’ success and ministry. He tells the disciples why he is able too and it’s the key to how we are to approach other people’s success.
John 3:28
You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’
John can celebrate other people’s success because he holds two truths. These are two truths that we need to believe and live out. This will help us live out the Christian faith.
KNOW WHO YOU ARE: IDENTITY
We can know who we are by knowing who we are not. John the Baptist knows that he is not the Christ, the Messiah. He isn’t the savior of the world. He is John the Baptist.
Many believers know that they are not the Christ, but they don’t operate like this in the real world. They try to be the savior of their lives, their families, their workplace, and in their culture. How do you know when you are acting more like Christ? When you are filled with more worry and anxiety. Instead of praying and trusting in Christ, you are trusting in yourself. This causes stress and fear.
Another way to know you are trying to be Christ is that you act first and pray second. You move into action before going to God. You think you know better rather than going to the one with all wisdom and knowledge. Stopping to pray and seek after the source of wisdom helps you remember that you are not Christ.
John embraced that he was not Christ. It freed him to be him. He did not have no to be someone who was not. He didn’t have to pretend or try to please his disciples. He knows his identity and worth. That frees him to be him without any pressure.
You are a child of God first and foremost. You need to come to him and be still. This gives you peace and joy to know that your worth comes not in what you do, but in who you are. This allows you to celebrate with others when they succeed because you know who you are.
KNOW YOUR PURPOSE
John knows his identity and worth is in Jesus. He also knows his purpose and why he’s on the earth. He shares that he is here to “prepare the way for Jesus” (John 3:28). John’s goal is to make Jesus more famous. His purpose is to help people get ready for Jesus by repenting of their sins and coming back to God. He knows that he’s there to promote, market, and make Jesus number one. That’s his purpose and the point of his ministry.
How do you know when you are living to prepare the way for Jesus?
You know based on how you talk about yourself. When you talk about your ministry, how much are you focused on your accomplishments, success and achievements? Or how much of the conversation do you give credit to Jesus and other people in your church?
Our purpose on earth is to serve God and serve others. The attitude of Christ is to serve and give (Philippians 2). When you are so focused on your own accomplishments then you make it about yourself. When you can talk, compliment, and encourage others in their success, then that means you are comfortable and confident in your own purpose. You know it’s not a competition. You are playing on the same team and another’s success is your success.
You are NOT Christ. You are here to prepare a way for Christ in your workplace, families, community, and country. What can you do today to live out your identity and purpose in Christ?
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