I was going through some of my
older devotions and I came across this one and I felt like sharing
it with you once again. I am sure that you won't mind as we all
need to hear this message again. Let us start with this wonderful
passage in John 3:26 - 30
"John's disciples came to him
and said, "Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan
river, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people.
And everyone is going over there instead of coming to us." John
replied, "God in Heaven appoints each person's work. You yourselves
know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to
prepare the way for Him - that is all. The bride will go where the
bridegroom is. A bridegroom's friend rejoices with him. I am the
Bridegroom's friend, and I am filled with joy at His success. He
must become greater and greater and I must become less and
less."
John's reply truly amazed me. Just
think about it, he was at the height of his 'career', his followers
loved him and revered him as an amazing prophet of God; in fact he
was the first prophet in over 400 years in Israel. He had a big
following and everyone looked up to him. After living for years in
the wilderness, people were finally recognizing him as a man of God
and flocking to see him. And yet when the time came for Jesus to
start His ministry, John wasn't jealous when his followers rather
followed Jesus, he didn't try and stop them and save his career by
spreading false rumors about Jesus. No, he knew that his task of
preparing the way for Jesus was coming to an end and he rejoiced at
the success that Jesus had.
This reminded me of another lovely
Bible story where the same principle was demonstrated. It is the
story of Jonathan and David. Jonathan was the oldest son of King
Saul. He was next in line in becoming the King of Israel. But God
chose David instead because of Saul's disobedience to God. King
Saul and Jonathan quickly realized that that was the case and that
God wasn't going to allow Jonathan to become King. Now Jonathan
could have let jealousy blind him and tried to stop God's plan by
killing David like his father Saul tried to do. He could have
spread false rumors about David and try to discredit him in front
of the people. But no, Jonathan is an amazing example to me of
someone who accepted God's plan and who understood that God's plan
is best, even if it meant that he would never receive the prestige
and honor here on earth that he might feel is due. Listen to
Jonathan's words to David while he was hiding away from Kind
Saul:
"Don't be afraid," Jonathan
reassured David. "My father will never find you! You are going to
be the King of Israel, and I will be next to you." 1 Samuel
23:17
Sadly Jonathan never had the
opportunity to be next to David, reigning as king, as he was killed
in a battle before he could. But I can assure you that he was well
awarded in heaven. Jonathan understood that what happens down here
on earth is not your ultimate goal, he understood that to follow
God's plan is the greatest fulfillment and that his rewards are
eternal.
And we should learn the same
lesson. When we do not get the promotion we wanted, when we are not
the most beautiful, when we do not measure up in worldly standards
to the one next door, when we do not 'make it' in the eyes of the
world etcetera, we shouldn't be envious of the ones who do. We
should look up to God and follow His plan for our lives. His plan
is good and His plan is fair and like John said, "God in Heaven
appoints each person's work". We should take hold of the plan that
He has for us and run with it and do the best with it that we can!
He is ultimately in control and we shouldn't try and force our hand
and bad mouth the ones who got the advancement we feel that we
deserved. No, we should learn from Jonathan and John. It is the
progression of the Kingdom of God that is important and each one of
us has a task in this. We should look up to God and ask Him what
our task is and then we must do it with all our vigor and might.
Our reward will be in Heaven.
Father, thank you so much that You
have a wonderful plan for each one of us. Please help us to stand
tall and do the best with what You have entrusted to us. To make
You proud of us is life's ultimate achievement. In Jesus' Name.
Amen