taking the low seat

Important lesson from John the Baptist today:

Church leaders face a particular kind of temptation.  They exert themselves stridently towards an ideal.  Problem-It is one thing to represent the ideal (Christ) but another thing to identify ourselves with that ideal.  What do I mean?
John passionately prepared the people for the Messiah.  He represented the Messiah.  However, he could not identify himself as the Messiah.  He (Jn) made clear that he wasn't the One to come.

We can too easily confuse what we're about.  Christ is the One that people need.  We cannot let our ego and personalities get in the way.  We're just representatives.  "A man can receive nothing unless it has been give to him from heaven", Jn said to his disciples after they said that Jesus was baptizing and everybody was going to him.  "He must increase, but I must decrease."  Jn 3:30

There is a tension isn't there?  Leaders do need to graciously enter into the place of influence without having to grovel in a false humility.  In other words, there is a gracious way to accept the seat of honor that others may bestow upon us.

But let's be clear about this-What do we have that we have not been given?  Let's not war on behalf of ourselves when others disrespect.  Let's strive for the honor of His name, not ours.  When we do this in sincerity, He lifts us up.  He gives the Spirit without measure, (Jn 3:34) and that's what people need-not us, not me.