The pursuit of more can leave us exhausted, restless, and searching for fulfillment that only God can provide. Through John 3:30, Megan J. Conner explores what it means to surrender our desire for recognition, success, and achievement so that Jesus can become greater in our lives.

Our culture often celebrates bigger, better, and more, but John the Baptist modeled a different path: humility, surrender, and a life centered completely on Christ. This devotional explores how true joy is not found in being noticed or praised by others, but in making room for Jesus to receive the glory. When we let go of the need to be seen, we discover the freedom and peace that come from knowing we are already fully known and loved by God.

Highlights:
Discover why the pursuit of “more” often leaves us feeling empty and exhausted.
Learn from John the Baptist’s example of humility and surrender.
Understand why true joy comes from making Christ greater, not ourselves.
Explore how pride and the desire for recognition can distract us from reflecting Jesus.
Find practical ways to surrender selfish desires through prayer and dependence on God.
Be encouraged to seek God’s validation above the approval of others.

Join the Conversation

Where do you find yourself chasing “more” in your life? What would it look like for Jesus to become greater while you become less?

Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/

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Full Transcript Below:

The Beauty of Less
By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading:
“He must become greater; I must become less.” - John 3:30 (NIV)

How many of us have felt trapped by the demands of “more?” More accomplishments, more accolades, more money, more security, more doing, more going, more belonging, more pursuing, more achieving… More, more, more… with no end in sight. The mantra bigger is better reigns king in many of our lives and incessantly clamors for attention. So, we work our fingers to the bone while fraying our nerves and destroying our peace.  More often than not, even if we are able to acquire the elusive pot of gold at the end of our desired rainbows, the emptiness we are attempting to fill remains void. 

Why is it that we are so drawn to the pursuit of more? Simply explained, it is part of our human nature. Without the Lord, we are naturally selfish and long for praise and exaltation. We want to be seen as important. We want to be “known.” But the truth is, we are known and deeply loved by our Heavenly Father, and His validation is the only one that will truly satisfy. John the Baptist understood this when he declared, “He (Jesus) must become greater, I must become less,” (John 3:30, NIV).

John the Baptist was the beloved cousin of Christ and lived for the sole purpose of preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. John was the first messenger to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He called people to repentance and cleansing through baptism. He reminded listeners that all are in need of a savior; that all have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). He was bold in his preaching and refuted the religious who refused to acknowledge their own sin. Because of the impact John had on the region, his actions earned him notoriety, even fame. So much so that his followers were upset when they felt like John was being upstaged by Jesus and His disciples.

“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—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.’ To this John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 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.” - John 3:26-30 (NIV).

John’s joy was not found in greatness; it was found in Jesus. His joy was complete in less. John understood that the more he diminished, the more others saw Christ. The same is true for us. When we pursue our own attention and accolades, we are beckoning to others - see me… recognize me, pay attention to me. For those of us who consider ourselves disciples and ambassadors for Christ, these efforts actually steal the spotlight from the true source of light and hope for a hurting world. It is through humility, not celebrity, that love shines the brightest. 

If decrease rather than increase is the goal, how then can we practically walk that out? First, we must lean into prayer. As shared earlier, we are naturally selfish.  So, any attempt to force meekness upon ourselves to accomplish our gospel mission will likely result in false humility. This is why we must ask for God’s help through prayer and genuine surrender.  Only then can we, like John the Baptist, truly declare, “He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 (NIV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Are you someone who feels weighed down by the demands of more? Are you seeking the affirmation and acceptance of others to fill a void in your heart? Do you struggle to remain still when opportunities are present for you to gain recognition? 

If you answered yes to any of these, first, please know – you are not alone. We all wrestle with the allure of pride. After honestly confessing your inner battle, may I encourage you to take some time today to be still before the Lord? Ask Him to show you the motivation behind your desire for attention. Then, ask Him to help you surrender those desires as you look to become less so that He can become greater in your life.

Further Reading:
Matt. 20:1-19
Rom. 3:21-26

The pursuit of more can leave us exhausted, restless, and searching for fulfillment that only God can provide. Through John 3:30, Megan J. Conner explores what it means to surrender our desire for recognition, success, and achievement so that Jesus can become greater in our lives.
Our culture often celebrates bigger, better, and more, but John the Baptist modeled a different path: humility, surrender, and a life centered completely on Christ. This devotional explores how true joy is not found in being noticed or praised by others, but in making room for Jesus to receive the glory. When we let go of the need to be seen, we discover the freedom and peace that come from knowing we are already fully known and loved by God.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Discover why the pursuit of &ldquo;more&rdquo; often leaves us feeling empty and exhausted.</li>
<li>Learn from John the Baptist&rsquo;s example of humility and surrender.</li>
<li>Understand why true joy comes from making Christ greater, not ourselves.</li>
<li>Explore how pride and the desire for recognition can distract us from reflecting Jesus.</li>
<li>Find practical ways to surrender selfish desires through prayer and dependence on God.</li>
<li>Be encouraged to seek God&rsquo;s validation above the approval of others.</li>
</ul>
Join the Conversation
Where do you find yourself chasing &ldquo;more&rdquo; in your life? What would it look like for Jesus to become greater while you become less?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: <a href="https://forums.crosswalk.com/">https://forums.crosswalk.com/</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
The Beauty of Less By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading: &ldquo;He must become greater; I must become less.&rdquo; - John 3:30 (NIV)
How many of us have felt trapped by the demands of &ldquo;more?&rdquo; More accomplishments, more accolades, more money, more security, more doing, more going, more belonging, more pursuing, more achieving&hellip; More, more, more&hellip; with no end in sight. The mantra bigger is better reigns king in many of our lives and incessantly clamors for attention. So, we work our fingers to the bone while fraying our nerves and destroying our peace.&nbsp; More often than not, even if we are able to acquire the elusive pot of gold at the end of our desired rainbows, the emptiness we are attempting to fill remains void.&nbsp;
Why is it that we are so drawn to the pursuit of more? Simply explained, it is part of our human nature. Without the Lord, we are naturally selfish and long for praise and exaltation. We want to be seen as important. We want to be &ldquo;known.&rdquo; But the truth is, we are known and deeply loved by our Heavenly Father, and His validation is the only one that will truly satisfy. John the Baptist understood this when he declared, &ldquo;He (Jesus) must become greater, I must become less,&rdquo; (John 3:30, NIV).
John the Baptist was the beloved cousin of Christ and lived for the sole purpose of preparing the way for the Lord&rsquo;s coming. John was the first messenger to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He called people to repentance and cleansing through baptism. He reminded listeners that all are in need of a savior; that all have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). He was bold in his preaching and refuted the religious who refused to acknowledge their own sin. Because of the impact John had on the region, his actions earned him notoriety, even fame. So much so that his followers were upset when they felt like John was being upstaged by Jesus and His disciples.
&ldquo;They came to John and said to him, &lsquo;Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan&mdash;the one you testified about&mdash;look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.&rsquo; To this John replied, &lsquo;A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 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&rsquo;s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.&rdquo; - John 3:26-30 (NIV).
John&rsquo;s joy was not found in greatness; it was found in Jesus. His joy was complete in less. John understood that the more he diminished, the more others saw Christ. The same is true for us. When we pursue our own attention and accolades, we are beckoning to others - see me&hellip; recognize me, pay attention to me. For those of us who consider ourselves disciples and ambassadors for Christ, these efforts actually steal the spotlight from the true source of light and hope for a hurting world. It is through humility, not celebrity, that love shines the brightest.&nbsp;
If decrease rather than increase is the goal, how then can we practically walk that out? First, we must lean into prayer. As shared earlier, we are naturally selfish.&nbsp; So, any attempt to force meekness upon ourselves to accomplish our gospel mission will likely result in false humility. This is why we must ask for God&rsquo;s help through prayer and genuine surrender.&nbsp; Only then can we, like John the Baptist, truly declare, &ldquo;He must become greater; I must become less.&rdquo; John 3:30 (NIV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Are you someone who feels weighed down by the demands of more? Are you seeking the affirmation and acceptance of others to fill a void in your heart? Do you struggle to remain still when opportunities are present for you to gain recognition?&nbsp;
If you answered yes to any of these, first, please know &ndash; you are not alone. We all wrestle with the allure of pride. After honestly confessing your inner battle, may I encourage you to take some time today to be still before the Lord? Ask Him to show you the motivation behind your desire for attention. Then, ask Him to help you surrender those desires as you look to become less so that He can become greater in your life.
Further Reading: Matt. 20:1-19 Rom. 3:21-26

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

The Beauty of Less

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/cf9b4bea-2c99-4a38-a70e-b49b010dab6e/transcript