Lighting Up EveryoneSample

A Great Mission

When we think of John the Baptist, I don't know about you, but I imagine a big, strong man with a firm personality and a loud voice. But regardless of what we imagine, the truth is that John was a man of God with a very important mission: to prepare the way for the Lord. And he completed that mission perfectly.

It's interesting to note that this man of God, in his own words, had to "decrease." In other words, he had to become smaller in the eyes of others as Jesus grew in the eyes of His followers. “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:29-30 (NIV)

Imagine a dimmer switch that gradually fades a light until it disappears completely. You could say that's what happened with John. He served according to God's calling for his life, until he made way for the ministry of his Lord, Jesus Christ.

It might seem that his life was completely extinguished when his head was brought to Herod on a platter, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In John 5:35 (NIV), we find some beautiful words from Jesus about John the Baptist: "John was a lamp that burned and gave light." How wonderful would it be if Jesus said those same words about us! What's so interesting and extraordinary is that the lamp Jesus talked about has not stopped burning for a single moment and continues to give a witness of Jesus in His holy Word.

Reading Jesus' words about John, I feel an immense desire for the Lord to say the same about me. And not just about me, but about all of us who are God's children. To burn and to shine, my dear readers. What more important and valuable thing could we do than let the light of Christ show through us? To have the grace and gift of God to be a light in the middle of the darkness—in the middle of a dark world that urgently needs the light of the Lord—is our greatest responsibility when it comes to evangelizing.

Eternal Father, help us make it our important mission in life to shine on others. We want to be that light you say we are, and to take every opportunity you give us to illuminate with your light all those within our reach.