Title: Loosening the shoelaces / Luke 3:15-17
John the Baptist did not focus on himself, but only on the Lord. As the last prophet of the Old Testament and messenger of Christ, he confesses, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30). He considered it the highest honor to be a lowly servant of Christ. But John the Baptist was indeed a great man. 'Among those born of women there is no greater than him' (Matthew 11:11) 'They are better than the prophets' (Matthew 11:9) 'This is the man of Elijah (the man of iron, our son) who is to come.' (Matthew 11:14) He cried like a lion and gave out a shining light, but he humbles himself that there is no light in the sight of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. And he falls down, saying, ‘I am not worthy to untie your shoelaces.’ He was a great teacher and leader of the nation, but being a servant of the Lord seemed too high for him.
I. Do not take sacred service lightly.
1. A servant bows down and acts as if he loses his dignity.
‘I will learn of Christ, and for Christ’s sake I will distribute bread to the multitudes, provide a boat for the Lord to preach, and draw a donkey for his triumphant entry.’ But this can be done without being a slave. You feel that you do not need to be blasphemed or humbled for Christ's sake, but it is impossible to do godly work without sacrificing your dignity.
2. Little things for Christ
Loosening his shoelaces is more precious than we think big. Those who work diligently in the marketplaces and guard their homes are greater patriots than those whose names appear daily on TV or newspaper media. It is more important to touch a child and have a relationship of love than a father's allowance. It is more important to pray for them than to give.
3. We need to do small things like big things.
washing the feet of Christ. Untying the shoelaces is no less neglected than examining the dead. This little work will help Christ preach the gospel. Teaching a child the right worship and the right faith is no less than life.
4. Little things for Christ are the touchstone of our faith.
Obedience to small things is loyalty. (Prayer, hymn, Bible reading, etc.) The Pharisee invited Jesus and could not untie his shoelaces. But Mary even washed Jesus' feet. Your love of serving small things can determine whether you are a believer or not.
5. Untying shoelaces is personal fellowship.
Which is better to choose between casting out demons, healing the sick, preaching the gospel, or untying shoelaces? The former is what Judas did. He also saw Satan fall from heaven. But in the end you become a failure. It is because there was no meeting (fellowship) with the Lord. I have not met the Lord like the woman who washed her hair and wiped His feet. It is no small thing to untie the laces of the Lord's shoes.
II. Let's say it's useless paper.
We are tempted to reveal ourselves in our ministry. When the prodigal son could say to his father, ‘Look, not as a son, but as a servant,’ his love for his father was restored. In fact, we are not even qualified to untie our shoelaces. Because it is useless paper. In fact, evangelism doesn't work the way I want it to. When the one who made Moses' mouth put a horse into it, he was able to defeat Pharaoh. It is worthwhile to untie your shoelaces for the Lord. But after doing that, you should be able to say, 'I am a useless paper.'
III. These words encourage us, not discourage us.
Even if our service has become worthless, we should be thankful for making us servants. John the Baptist lived on locusts and locusts. He did not wear soft clothes like those who lived in the royal palace. They wore camel skins and lived in poverty. Finally, he was beheaded by Herod's sword. But he died while exalting the Lord as a witness of righteousness. Moravian missionaries were enslaved for the gospel in the West Indies. Some have become lepers to preach to lepers. Have you ever suffered loss or shame for the Lord?