| The Ministry of Comfort |
Chapter 12 |
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John the Baptist, in his life and ministry, illustrated the grace of self effacement as few other men have done. When he first began to preach, great throngs flocked about him. When Jesus came and began to preach, the crowds melted away from John and went after the new preacher. It was not easy for John to see this and not be disturbed by it. But it caused him no bitter pang. He rejoiced in seeing Jesus thus honoured, though at the cost of his own fame. “He must increase, but I must decrease,” was his answer, when his disciples grew envious of the Galilean Rabbi. He understood that the highest use to which his life could be put was to add to the honour of his Master. He was glad to be unnoticed, to have his own name extinguished, that the glory of Christ might shine the more brightly.
The same renunciation of self should characterize all who follow Christ. They should seek only to get recognition for Him, willing themselves to be unrecognized and unhonoured. Yet not always are the Master’s friends content to be nothing that the praise may be given to Christ. Too often do they insist upon having their own name written in bold letters on their work. It would be the mark of a higher degree in spiritual attainment if we were willing to be anonymous in every service for Christ. Even in the things men do which are necessarily conspicuous, in which it is impossible to hide the hand that works, there should always be in the heart the paramount desire to please and honour Christ. If in what they do, however beautiful and worthy it may be in itself, the wish is “to be seen of men,” the beauty is blotted, and the worthiness vitiated. Only what we do for the honour of Christ is really gold and silver and precious stones in the building; all the rest is but wood, hay, and stubble, which cannot abide.
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