Pastor Gillit challenges believers to shift from a success-oriented mindset to one of humble service. Drawing from the life and words of John the Baptist, he reminds us that true greatness in the kingdom of God is found in faithfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:27 states: “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
The Greatness of the Lord
John the Baptist deliberately pointed away from himself to the coming Messiah. At a time when crowds flocked to him in the wilderness for baptism and confession of sins, John declared that the one coming after him was infinitely greater. He described himself as merely a voice crying in the wilderness, while Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John prepared the way and then stepped aside so that Christ could be exalted.
God Preferred Jesus
When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the Spirit of God descended upon him, and the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God’s focus has always been on exalting his Son.
God’s People Preferred Jesus
Two of John’s own disciples left him to follow Jesus after hearing John say, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Andrew then brought his brother Peter to Jesus, not back to John. From that point, the disciples centred their message on Christ. God’s people, when they have spiritual sense, are preoccupied with the God-man, not with God’s servants.
John Preferred Jesus
When told that all men were now following Jesus, John responded with joy: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John’s high view of the Saviour shaped his entire ministry and made him usable in God’s hands.
The Unworthiness of the Servant
Only a right understanding of the Master leads to a right understanding of ourselves. John declared that he was not worthy even to unloose the latchet of the coming One’s shoe — the lowliest task of the lowliest servant in that culture. Several others in Scripture expressed similar humility in the presence of Jesus: the centurion who said he was not worthy for Christ to enter his house, and the prodigal son who confessed he was no longer worthy to be called a son.
The apostles rejoiced when counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name. Paul thanked God for counting him faithful and putting him into the ministry, recognising it as pure grace. We do not earn our place in service through talent, experience, or degrees. Ministry is God’s gift to us, not our gift to him. We are unworthy servants whom God, in his grace, chooses to use.
The Privilege of Service
The most important question for any servant is not where, when, or how we serve, but who we serve. Unfastening shoes was menial work, yet John considered it an honour because they were the Saviour’s shoes, the feet that walked on water, were nailed to the cross, rose from the tomb, and will one day have all things placed under them.
New Testament believers enjoy even greater privileges. We bear Christ’s name as Christians, are indwelt by his Holy Spirit, carry his gospel to the ends of the earth, and enjoy immediate access to the Father’s presence in prayer. Whether teaching Sunday school, working with youth, singing in the choir, or serving as missionaries, every act of service to Christ is a high honour.
A great British pastor, Charles Spurgeon, observed that even when we go as low as we can for Christ, he has gone lower still. We untie shoes; he washed feet. We show patience; he showed perfect patience. We take a low place; he took the place of the curse for us.
Conclusion
The Christian life and ministry are not primarily about personal success or recognition. They are about humble, faithful service to a great King. May we embrace the mindset of John the Baptist, lose any sense of entitlement, and marvel that the Lord allows us to do anything at all for him. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, rejoice in the privilege of serving him, and one day hear those longed-for words from our Saviour: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
