22010.076.80 Pointing People to Christ

“John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.” —John 3:27

Responding to his disciples’ complaint in regards to Jesus’ following surpassing that of his own, John speaks of the sovereignty of God. Unmoved in the face of the world’s fickle opinions, there was not a hint of jealousy, selfish ambition, or vain conceit in his words. Humility shines forth from a right understanding of God’s ultimate plan.

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans that whatever gift God gives is to be lived out in sincerity and motivated by love in order to serve and edify the body of Christ. Our gifts are given to us in order to be used for the furtherance of God’s kingdom. The love of God expressed through human beings encourages and increases the faith of other believers.

“For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. “And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness. Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.” —Romans 12:4-9

Paul commends the Thessalonians:

“Because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction. As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” —1 Thessalonians 1:3-7

Take It to Heart

In our verse for today John is clear–God is sovereign over the affairs of men. We must remember that just as the gifts given to us are not our own, neither are our ministries–they are God’s and He will do with them as He pleases:

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.” —Proverbs 21:1

“There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD. A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the LORD.” —Proverbs 21:30-31

Further Reflections

“Different employments are according to the direction of divine Providence, different endowments according to the distribution of the divine grace. We should not envy those who have a larger share of gifts than we have, or move in a larger sphere of usefulness. John reminds his disciples that Jesus would not have thus excelled him unless he had received it from heaven, and, if God gave him the Spirit without limit, shall they grudge at it? We should not be discontent, though we may be inferior to others in gifts and usefulness, and be eclipsed by their excellencies. John was ready to confess that it was God who gave him the place he had in the love and esteem of the people; and, if now his place declined, God’s will be done! When he has fulfilled his ministry, he can contentedly see it go out of date.” —Matthew Henry

“The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts.” —1 Samuel 2:7

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