Have you ever been aware of churches that seem to be in competition with each other? I’m not talking about the church softball league. Instead, I’ve known church leadership who look at the booming and growing church across town and start questioning their own ministry. Why do we compare ourselves to others? It seems the same kind of thing was happening back in Jesus’ day.
Rather than grumble and bemoan a similar situation, we can look to how John the Baptist responded to his people. John wasn’t worried. John knew both ministries were on the same team. In their case, however, the “competition” was the King of Kings, the Messiah himself. Still, there was no rivalry because both ministries were preaching the same message of repentance and new life.
I wonder what those disciples of John thought. Were they firmly devoted to John, or were they curious about Jesus’ ministry like many others? In our day, we see people “church shopping” to find the best fit. Whether it be preaching style, music preference, worship time, or even location, those details tend to divide us nicely into different ministry communities.
When we realize we’re not competing, we can be free to focus on the main thing, Jesus. The questions we should be asking are, “Who is Jesus?” and “How does Jesus want me to live?” John put it into perspective for his followers when he said this about Jesus, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” That should be a lesson for our own humility and how we approach Jesus. He is the one we exalt, not ourselves or even our community of believers.
John did a great job of reminding his followers that Jesus was the real thing, the main event. “For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.” There is no denying John’s devotion to Jesus and respect for who Jesus was. John never wanted to take the attention away from Jesus. He had said all along that his job had been to prepare the people to be ready for Jesus.
Today, our churches play the role of preparing us to encounter Jesus’ majesty. We hear God’s Word, and we practice both discipleship and servanthood. Hopefully, we are supporting one another on our faith journeys. When churches are healthy, they preach God’s word and empower the members to go out into the world just as those first disciples did, spreading the Good News to the ends of the earth. It’s not a competition between believers. We’re all on the same team.
John knew his mission and place in this world. Do you know yours? Take some time today to listen for direction and feel God enabling you to do his work.
Let’s pray. Thank you, Lord, for how you empower me to do your Will. Forgive me for those times when I compare myself to other Christians and don’t feel worthy. Help me to stay in my own lane and be the person you made me to be. May my eyes be focused on you and your truth alone. Give me discernment to understand your ways and your leading. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
