Greater.

My dear friend Jimmy Davis and I attended Bryan College together. We roomed together all four years in Woodlee-Ewing 224. Oh the memories. I'm not even going to start. I stood in Jimmy's driveway last night (at a distance) and spoke to him about my amazement of how God strategically placed us together as seniors in high school, on into college and to the current day. We literally decided on the spot during a youth group musical rehearsal near the end of our senior year that we would room together at Bryan. Two sets of matching towels and masculine bedspreads later, we were Bryan Lions. Thanks Junie and June (our moms)! In God's sovereign knowing, Jimmy and I were both at Bryan to prepare for pastoral ministry to students and families. I remember our college professors brought in the current "known" youth ministry experts of our era to teach and interact with us as students. Bill Jones, Barry St. Clair and others. Jimmy and I referred to them as the "Big Dogs" and as young men aspiring towards student ministry, I think we dreamt of being "Big Dogs" one day like them.

Being great still gets quite a lot of play these days. There is talk of who or what is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in a myriad of categories. Athletes, Albums, Artists, and Appetizers. Who or what is the greatest? There are several places in the Bible that talk about greatness. One is tucked in the 3rd chapter of the Bible book of John, starting around verse 22. John the Baptist did his fair share of baptizing people. He got a nickname of sorts out of it:) When Jesus arrived, which John had passionately foretold would happen, people began to be baptized by Jesus. Some of John's followers asked him one day about people going to Jesus to be baptized instead of being baptized by him. John's response to them is clear and beautiful. He clearly states that Jesus is the focal point, not him. He speaks about the greatness of Jesus from a place of personal, growing humility. I am instructed by this. He beautifully declares that it is his joy to have any kind of connection with Jesus. It is an honor. It is viewed as a kindness. A get to. A gift. And then the Holy Spirit guides the writing of these words from John as a succinct summary of his declaration. This is in John, chapter 3, verse 30. "He must become greater. I must become less." Another translation says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

I have been aware and drawn to these words for many years. I thought about them in a new way this week. God's greatness doesn't change. There can be this slight, subtle thought when I hear the words....He must become greater, He must increase...that He will somehow change and become greater, His greatness will increase. No. His greatness isn't changing. His greatness IS. "I AM", He told Moses. So what's happening then? If His greatness IS and has ALWAYS BEEN and will ALWAYS BE, what is changing?

IT HAPPENS IN ME! IT HAPPENS IN YOU! WE CHANGE! This is so joyful. This is so hopeful. The awareness and experience of the already established greatness of God is given as a new gift from Him to you and me. Today! He isn't changing. His greatness remains the same. GOAT for sure, hands down, categories unnecessary! If His greatness is increasing its because we're changing and He's doing it. Thank You God. Thank You. He is allowing us to encounter His greatness in new ways that we haven't before. He changes us to do it.

I have been drawn to the lyrics of a new song over the last year entitled "Glorious". These lines are so hopeful in my soul. They humbly and raucously celebrate the joyous mystery that God is forming us. He makes it so we won't stay our miserable, wretched selves. He matures us. He changes us. He IS great. The lyrics say, "All of my weakness is met by Your grace, the empowering presence to change.... I bow low at the feet of my Savior, saying yes to the process of changing. Falling in to the arms of my Father, all my soul will sing out, You're glorious."

I love you Father. You ARE glorious. I do want to become less. I do want You to be greater in me. And You can be because You can change me to know more of who You already are.

Gloriously Great.

Great hope.

There's more.