Today during discipleship with Laura, we read the third chapter of John's Gospel. Take a look at this passage:

John the Baptist's Testimony About Jesus

John 3:22-30, emphasis added

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. (This was before John was put in prison.) An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less..."

Here John the Baptizer is -- a called, equipped servant of God with a full understanding that his work could only encompass so much; a recognition that even he was unworthy to untie the sandals of the One for whom the way was being prepared (John 1:26-27).

I love his response in v. 30: "He must become greater; I must become less." It brings me hope to know that Jesus' closest friends recognized his Messiah-authority and had such humble but firm responses to his ministry beginnings.

When we attempt to step out of the comfort and support of this place (a tough task in and of itself), God tends to work through the immediacy of outside perspective. His greatness is enough. Not only is it enough, but it is vital, and will propel us forward in the biblical understanding of humility: not being 'stepped on' or 'taken advantage of,' but genuine trust in the One who calls us to respond in obedience so that we can actively be a part of his working in our world.