A friend posted some photos of a wedding that he and his wife attended. It was simple and outdoors but all the usual characters were there. If you have ever been involved in a wedding, you will have heard about the “best man”. The best man is the confidant of the groom, usually his most important friend or brother. He comes before the groom and prepares the way. He coordinates many of the details of the wedding for the groom, in particular he is responsible for the wedding rings. They call him the best man because he plays a very important part in the wedding.
During the wedding ceremony, the best man gives the rings to the groom so that the bride and groom can complete the symbolic joining as husband and wife. A joyous moment indeed.
After that moment, the best man’s responsibilities are essentially complete. He is still the best friend and brother, but his role decreases as the groom and bride are joined at the center of the ceremony.
The Bible talks about this concept in John 3:26-30, John the Baptist began his ministry before Jesus did and proclaimed that someone more important than him was coming; someone who could permanently wash away their sins. After Jesus began His work, someone asked John the Baptist about Him;
““Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
My paraphrase:
“Rabbi, did you know this Jesus fellow that you talked about, is baptizing people, and everyone is following him?”
John answered, “You heard me say, ‘I am not the Christ, but God sent me ahead of time to tell people he was coming.’ I am like the friend of the bridegroom. I am excited to hear that he has arrived, and my joy is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
In the same way, before I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I was the most important person in my life. But from that moment, my heart was changed and He came to live inside me. Now, as I live life, my role in making decisions becomes less as I learn that I can trust God with His plan for my life, and I get to watch it unfold, as I release my will to Him, .
Do I still get to make decisions? Sure, God gave me a brain and He expects me to use it, but now that Christ is living in me, He can show me the right choices in my decisions. I get to enjoy watching Him work through me. That is indeed my desire, how about you?
