John 3:26-31 “And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

Text John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John’s disciples come to him alarmed about the increasing popularity of Jesus. They fear that if the trend continues, Jesus will have the preeminence and John will become but a faint memory; a used to be! In response to their, “all men come to him”, John declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John is saying, “It is a necessity in the life of the believer that Jesus is enlarged and we be lessened!” This is a principle that’s pressing! John wanted his followers to understand that it is imperative; “he must.” The word “must” means it is or was necessary as binding. As a child of God, when the world looks at you, it is to see more of the Saviour and less of self.

This is a principle that is progressive. This is not something to be done one time and then forgotten; it is a principle in which, day by day, moment by moment, year by year; He increasingly gets bigger and we get smaller until all that the world sees is Him.

Lastly, this is a principle that is plain. The truth is; every child of God knows that this is a divine principle that is to be actively working in their life. James said, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Our problem is not lack of knowledge, but willful disobedience! If Christ is not being magnified in our lives, it is because we love self more than the Saviour! It must be more than a divine principle; it must be a daily practice!