5-Day Devotional: He Must Increase

Day 1: Standing Against Evil

Reading: Proverbs 8:13; Matthew 14:1-12

Devotional: John the Baptist stood against evil not because he knew God would rescue him, but because it was the right thing to do. His courage wasn’t manufactured—it was Spirit-given. He understood that fearing the Lord means hating evil, regardless of personal cost. John lost his life for speaking truth to power, yet Jesus called him the greatest man who ever lived.

Today, ask yourself: What evil am I tolerating because speaking up might cost me something? Where do I need supernatural courage? Left to our own strength, we will fail when it matters most. Pray for God to create in you a courage you could never manufacture on your own—courage to stand for Christ when comfort, popularity, and ease tempt you to remain silent.

Day 2: Understanding Your Assignment

Reading: John 3:25-30; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Devotional: When John’s disciples worried about losing their influence to Jesus, John responded with profound clarity: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John understood his assignment. He wasn’t called to be the Messiah—he was called to point to the Messiah. This understanding gave him strength and freedom.

Do you know what God has called you to do? Understanding your assignment protects you from comparison, jealousy, and the exhausting pursuit of relevance. Every blessing, every person who comes into your sphere of influence is a gift from heaven, not a result of your awesomeness. When you grasp this truth, you stop competing and start celebrating. You stop self-promoting and start Christ-exalting. What would change in your life if you truly believed your purpose was to make Jesus great?

Day 3: The Litmus Test of Faith

Reading: John 3:30; Philippians 2:5-11

Devotional: “He must increase, but I must decrease” is the litmus test of genuine Christianity. Real Christians don’t just add Jesus to their lives—they give Him the steering wheel. This doesn’t mean perfection; it means direction. Can you look at the trajectory of your life and see Jesus taking more territory in your heart?

Fake Christianity bolts Jesus onto rebellion, using out-of-context verses to justify sin. Real Christianity surrenders control, saying “Lord, You call the shots.” This is the difference between religion and relationship, between performance and transformation. Examine your heart today: Is Jesus increasing in your affections, decisions, and priorities? Are you decreasing in self-promotion, self-protection, and self-reliance? The old you should be fading as the new you—who loves and glories in Christ—emerges. This is the evidence of authentic faith.

Day 4: The True Jesus

Reading: John 3:31-36; Colossians 1:15-20

Devotional: We live in an age of propaganda about Jesus. Social media floods us with false versions of Christ—a Jesus who isn’t divine, who sinned, who was merely a prophet. But John the Baptist knew the true Jesus: the One from heaven who is above all, who speaks God’s words, who is loved by the Father and given all authority.

Your understanding of Jesus must be big enough to carry you through dark times. When evil seems to triumph, when justice appears delayed, remember: Jesus is sovereign over presidents, kings, tech billionaires, demons, and angels. He sees everything. Nobody gets away with anything. A day is coming when He will sit on the great white throne and publicly judge every unrepentant sinner. Hold fast to the true Christ revealed in Scripture, not the counterfeit versions offered by culture. Your soul needs a big God.

Day 5: Believe and Obey

Reading: John 3:36; Acts 16:25-34; 2 Corinthians 3:18

Devotional: John’s final words in chapter three are sobering: whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever does not obey remains under God’s wrath. Belief and obedience are inseparable. Jesus doesn’t just offer forgiveness—He offers transformation, new cravings, liberation from sin.

If you’ve never trusted Christ, today is the day of salvation. This offer has a shelf life. Simply pray: “Jesus, save me. I need You.” If you’re already a Christian but life has become all about you, what step of obedience is the Lord asking you to take? It might not feel significant—just one degree closer to Him. But transformation happens one degree of glory at a time. What do you need to surrender today? What area of your life needs to shift from self-promotion to Christ-exaltation? Don’t justify your sin any longer. Take the step.