Prepare: Positioned for God's PurposesSample

The biblical account of John the Baptist’s life is not all “up and to the right.” His faithfulness led to imprisonment and, eventually, beheading—a conclusion many struggle to understand. Even John wrestled with it. His ministry soared in Luke 3: crowds listened, tax collectors repented, and soldiers grappled with his warnings. His influence grew so dramatically that people began to wonder if he might be the Messiah. Yet bold truth-telling ultimately landed John in King Herod’s prison.

Have you ever felt life became harder precisely because you obeyed God?

John knew that feeling. From prison, he sent a message to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19). It’s a raw question, born of unmet expectations and a weary heart. Yet Jesus didn’t rebuke him. Instead, He affirmed John’s role in God’s plan and declared, “Among those born of women, none is greater than John” (Luke 7:28). John hadn’t failed; he had fulfilled God’s purposes for his life.

A key ingredient at the heart of John’s story is posture—a life lived for God’s glory, not personal gain. John declared, “He [Jesus] must increase, but I [John] must decrease” (John 3:30). Easy to say, but hard to live when faithfulness costs us something. Often, taking Kingdom risks feels easier at first—we have less to lose. But as God builds through our faithfulness, the temptation grows to preserve progress rather than risk it all for His glory again.

Jim Elliot, a missionary martyred in 1956, wrote in his journal: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jesus is worth every sacrifice. The question isn’t whether the cost is high—it’s whether Christ is worthy. God is looking for men and women who will live prepared to hold nothing back, to let go of fleeting comforts, and to set their hearts fully on Christ. Positioning your life for His purposes means living with eternity etched into every decision, every risk, and every act of faith. This is no half-hearted call. We live for His glory above all else.

REFLECTION:
What might “He must increase, but I must decrease” look like in your current commitments or ambitions?