Featured Artist: April Mathews

He must become greater; I must become less. | John 3:30

Of all the words in this short verse the biggest oomph comes from the word “must.” His increase and my decrease are both a must, if we aim to see any growth in this divinely appointed relationship. The must simply solidifies the deep necessity of the movement:

Him  u p w a r d s
and me  d o w n w a r d s .

And this necessity hearkens back to the all too familiar:

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one had died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. | 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

With such elegant words, the necessity transforms to take the form of

control.

Our relationship with the self-sacrificing Savior compels and controls us so that we no longer live for ourselves under the bondage of self-serving sin, but instead, we are made new to live for the One who died for us! His steadfast love for us is so pure and perfect that it necessitates our all; we must give it to Him! In fact, it is unfathomable that we could live any other way:

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” | Matthew 6:24

From the very beginning we were commanded to serve no other gods before Him because none other came remotely close to deserving our service. It is impossible for a heart to be given in whole to two, and so we must resolve to give it completely to Him: the very One who has redeemed it. He purchased my soul with unspeakable cost. He paved the way for my freedom. He alone deserves our all. He must become greater!

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. | Romans 6:17-18

I am no longer a slave to sin. I now, whole-heartedly, become

a slave to
r i g h t e o u s n e s s .

March 1st – 30th, Come Awake is participating in the worldwide #30DaysOfBibleLettering challenge. Click on the link to learn more! Then, share your thoughts & artwork with us using the form below!