Do you remember the last time you were afraid or apprehensive about something? A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking at a women’s conference. If you’re anything like me, the anticipation leading up to the presentation is ten times worse than actually speaking. 

I imagined everything that could go wrong: forgetting my notes, misplacing my reading glasses, stumbling over my words – and the list went on and on. We tend to worry when something has the potential to bring less than favorable results. After my session, I felt silly for worrying. Everything had gone just fine.

At the end of the day, the things concerning me were all situations that could make me look bad. In my mind, my reputation was at stake. I made a sobering realization: my pride was the source of my fear. Have you ever been there?

A few chapters into the book of John and I found a solution in the words of John the Baptist:

When pride is thinking “what’s best for me?” humility is considering how the Lord can be magnified and what’s best for others. Although John the Baptist had large audiences flocking to him to hear what he had to say, he maintained the right perspective. He thought of himself as a voice pointing others to Christ. 

It would have been easy for John to begin focusing on himself and his growing ministry. Instead, he chose to be the best servant of God he could be. He took his role seriously – to make much of Jesus.

In the middle of a large crowd, when John saw Jesus walking toward him, he didn’t hesitate to announce the Lord’s arrival:

The Jews expected John to be jealous when his followers left him to join Jesus. Take a look at John’s response:

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

In a world where people clamor for attention and demand their rights, John’s response is certainly not the norm. I can learn a lot from John the forerunner of Christ. 

John understood this principle and put it this way:

Krista Williams from Proverbs 31 ministries further clarified this:

“The Holy Spirit has uniquely gifted you. And your spiritual gift has been given for the spiritual benefit of the whole church. Each spiritual gift is to be used to strengthen and build up the body of Christ. Just like each part of a human body is designed to work together, each spiritual gift is necessary for the body of Christ to live and thrive and grow.” (First 5 App; Body Building at Its Best)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2