Introduction

Hey, good folks! It's a joy to be with you today, sharing in the love and fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ. We're going to be chatting about a few things that I reckon will really resonate with you - and hopefully, they're going to help us all grow a little bit closer to God and each other.

You know, I've been doing a bit of reading lately. I've got this book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who really knew a thing or two about the Christian faith. In his book, "The Cost of Discipleship," he says, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Now, that's a powerful quote, isn't it? Bonhoeffer is reminding us that following Jesus isn't just about saying the right words or doing the right things. It's about giving up our own wants and desires, and living for Him instead.

Embracing Selflessness

When we look at the life of John the Baptist, we see a man who was completely selfless. He lived in the wilderness, wore clothes made of camel's hair, and ate locusts and wild honey. He didn't seek comfort or luxury. Instead, he devoted his life to preparing the way for Jesus. He was a voice crying out in the wilderness, calling people to repentance. His focus was not on himself, but on the message he was called to deliver.

The example of John. This is a powerful example for us. In a world that often encourages us to put ourselves first, to seek our own comfort and happiness above all else, John's life challenges us to think differently. It calls us to consider how we can live more selflessly, putting God and others before ourselves.

Selflessness in action. In the Gospel of John, we see this selflessness in action. When the religious leaders asked John who he was, he didn't take the opportunity to promote himself. He didn't claim to be the Messiah or a great prophet. Instead, he pointed to Jesus. He said, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" His identity was tied not to who he was, but to the mission he was called to carry out.

Application – This is a challenge for us, too. It's easy to define ourselves by our jobs, our accomplishments, our relationships. But as followers of Jesus, our true identity is found in Him. We are called to be His disciples, to carry out His mission in the world. This means putting aside our own desires and ambitions, and seeking to do His will instead.

John’s humility. John's selflessness is also seen in his humility. When Jesus came to be baptized, John recognized that he was not worthy to baptize the Son of God. He said, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus insisted, and John humbly obeyed. He didn't let his pride get in the way of doing what was right.

Application – This is a lesson for us as well. Pride can often prevent us from doing what God calls us to do. It can make us think we're better than others, that we don't need help, that we can do things on our own. But the truth is, we all need God's grace. We all need to humble ourselves before Him, recognizing that without Him, we can do nothing.

John’s decrease and Christ’s increase. Finally, John's selflessness is seen in his willingness to decrease so that Jesus could increase. When his disciples came to him, concerned that Jesus was baptizing more people than he was, John wasn't bothered. He said, "He must become greater; I must become less." He understood that his role was to point people to Jesus, not to draw attention to himself.

Application – This is perhaps the greatest challenge for us. In a world that encourages us to promote ourselves, to seek fame and recognition, we are called to do the opposite. We are called to point people to Jesus, to make Him known. This means being willing to step aside, to let Him take center stage, to let Him increase while we decrease.

Living with Simplicity

Living with simplicity, as John the Baptist did, is a powerful testament of faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO