“He must become greater; I must become less.

” (John 3:30)

Less is More_______________________________

There are numerous Biblical examples of doing less resulting in deliverance or victory. The Old
Testament warrior and leader Joshua could have stormed Jericho’s walls and put up siege ramps to
topple the enemy, but God directed him to do less. God told him to march around the city, blow some trumpets, and shout.
(Joshua 6) Wow! It worked! The walls fell down.
Gideon, the least of his family, was called by God to be a military leader and to save his nation from foreign
invasion. He gathered over 20,000 troops to fight with him but God said, “Send all but 300 of them home. Surround your
enemy with torches and trumpets and watch what I will do.” (Judges 7) Wow! It worked.
A disciple tried to protect Jesus by using the power of his sword against the enemy and he cut off a soldier’s ear.
Jesus told his disciple to put up his sword and then healed the man’s bleeding ear. (Luke 22::49-51) Jesus demonstrated to
him that less is more.
A boy gave up his picnic lunch one day. He chose less and, as a result, Jesus fed him and over 5,000 people that
day. (John 6:1-15)
When Jesus’ disciples could not heal a person Jesus told them that some people are only healed by prayer and
fasting. (Mark 9:29) Fasting means choosing to eat [or do] less and is one of our most powerful spiritual tools.
John the Baptist once said, “He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30) In order to
survive and thrive in education today, this is what we must do. We don’t need more time, money, personnel, laws, or
science in our careers. We need more God.
God cries out for obedience to Him in His schools. He cries out, “Seek me first and I will add all things unto you,
such as high academic achievement.” He also says, “Don’t believe that just by doing more you are going to get more. Stop
serving More. I will give you the courage it takes to do less. Obey me and watch what I will do.”

Prayer: Lord, help us decrease while you increase in our professional lives.
Reflection: What percentage of my professional life do I believe is led and directed by the Lord? How do I practically seek
God first in my professional life?
Getting Real: Inquire of the Lord. In prayer ask Him how you are to decrease and how He is to increase in your
professional life. Ask Him if he wants you to fast for your profession. Share with a fellow Christian teacher what God is
telling you to do. Obey what God tells you to do.

CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: Fields of Faith in Education (For info or prayer contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 21

PRAY FOR ABIGAIL

(South Africa Outreach – Dr. Mella Davis)

Abigail, who is ten, lives with her Bible-believing father, Brother Winston. He rightly wanted to
know what I was teaching the girls. I explained to him that beyond the foundations of dance and
movement, the girls are learning how to relate to one another in community in a respectful
manner, how to use dance as worship to God, and to learn more about a personal relationship
with their Creator. I also hope to build on their skills of self-confidence, self-representation, and
identity that are rooted in Christ. Abigail is a cheerful and loving child. She is helpful and kind. She
is also a graceful dancer.