Day 3: Ownership & Control
To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given from heaven.”
John 3:27 NIV
Preparing the heart
As we begin our time of prayer & fasting, let us allow the words of Psalm 24:1-2 to speak to you.:
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Take time to pause right now.
Do not hurry.
Breathe slowly.
Let the words speak to you.
How would you respond to our God who owns everything?
—
Dear God, nais kong mamalas ka sa mga sandaling ito. I long for you. I need you. I desire to meet You! Tulungan mo ako na mag-focus sa Iyo lamang. Mangusap ka sa akin o God. Maging personal ka sa akin o Lord. Bless me oh Lord with Your powerful and sweet presence.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Time of reflection
In John 3:22-30, there will be a noticeable shift. By this time, Jesus was gaining traction. More people were beginning to follow Him. More people were wanting to listen to him. The followers of John the Baptist were sensing that their leader was becoming less relevant. He was losing popularity, his influence and even followers. But this became the most appropriate situation for John the Baptist to demonstrate to his disciples how Christ is to increase and how the self is to decrease. In response to the observation made by his disciples that Jesus was becoming more popular than him and gaining even his very own followers, John the Baptist had this to say; "A person can receive only what is given from heaven.”
With this response, John the Baptist addressed the matter of ownership. Sinasabi ni John the Baptist na una sa lahat wala naman siyang natanggap na hindi binigay sa kanya ng Diyos. Yung mga sumusunod sa kaniya, yung mga naniniwala sa kanya, yung mga alagad niya- sila ay bigay sa kanya. John the Baptist did not own them. Kaya kung umalis man sila o mawala man sila, ito ay hindi niya ikakabahala. When John the Baptist relinquished ownership, he also relinquished his control. So when God started taking away his influence, his popularity and his followers, tanggap ito ni John the Baptist dahil ibig sabihin nito, as he decreased, Jesus was increasing.
Ganoon rin sa ating buhay, we also need to relinquish ownership so that when God starts taking away from us, we will not hold on tightly to these things. For at times, God has to take away in order for Him to do the work of increasing in us.
Pause & reflect
May mga bagay ba na nawala o nabawas sa iyo? Could it be that you are losing these things so that Christ might increase in your life? Are there things in your life that you know God wants you to let go but you are unwilling to relinquish control? If you want Jesus to increase in your life then let go and surrender these things to the Lord right now. Relinquish your ownership. Relinquish your control. Give them to Jesus.
Pray
Do you know of someone who is undergoing a loss in their life? Pray for that person right now, that he or she may find God’s purpose in it.
Pray for all the peoples and nations of this world. Losses of many kinds are being incurred due to Covid 19, calamities, wars, pestilences and more. Pray for the world to know that in their losses, Jesus wants to meet them, minister to them and increase in them. Pray that the world will turn to Jesus.
Prayer of commitment
Dear Lord, tulungan mo ako na maisabuhay ang mga bagay na ni-reveal mo sa akin. Gawin mong katotohanan sa aking buhay ang mga bagay na aking natutunan. Empower me oh Lord, that Jesus in me may increase as I decrease.
Amen.
