Humility Before God and One Another | November 3rd, 2026

Luke 3:16-17
16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Philippians 2:3-11
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Deuteronomy 10:17
17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

John the Baptist stood at the height of his influence. The crowds were so moved by his preaching that they began to wonder whether he himself was the Messiah. His response was immediate and unambiguous. He pointed entirely away from himself and toward Christ, declaring that he was not even worthy to perform the duty of the lowliest servant. That kind of humility is rare, especially in a culture that rewards self-promotion. True ministry, and true Christian living, begins where self-importance ends. The one who is mightier than all deserves every ounce of our devotion and none of our competition.

Personal Reflection: In what relationships or responsibilities are you tempted to seek recognition rather than redirect glory to God? How does John's example challenge that tendency?