- John 4:1-3 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.
I’ve read the gospel of John many times and yet something stood out to me today that I had never notice. (How can I miss these things!?) If you will recall, John records that there had been some controversy over the fact that more people were coming to Jesus and his disciples to be baptized than John the Baptist. John the Baptist refused to take the bait and made his famous statement: “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
However, in today’s verses we can see that Jesus also refused to take the bait. In other words, Jesus will not be in competition with us. If we choose to devote ourselves to something or someone else over Him He will quietly withdraw.
I have experienced this in my own life when I allowed myself to become passionate about lesser things and then come to my senses one day and realize that Jesus was distant from me. (The irony of this is that what distracted me was often “God’s work” vs. God’s work in me.)
What about you, are you so busy with your agenda that you are driving Jesus out of your life? Remember, He refuses to get into a competition match with you. Either you declare Him Lord and devote yourself to Him and His agenda or He quietly slips away.
There are no “spiritual Olympics” when it comes to your relationship with Jesus. Jesus insists on getting all the gold medals…but you get Him…a far better outcome.
The ONE THING 