John 1:29-34, James 1:19-27, Ecclesiastes 2:17-26, Jeremiah 5-6

Read:
John 1:29-34, James 1:19-27, Ecclesiastes 2:17-26, Jeremiah 5-6
And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22

For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Ecclesiastes 2:24

Reflect:
There was something about Jesus to which some part of John the Baptist responded. He could see, he could sense, he could testify that this was the Son of God.
How I live must testify that I am a child of God. No amount of striving on my part to influence people will amount to anything if there is not an essence that rings true in my life. And that comes from who I am. And who I am comes from the work that I put into my life. It's the "law of correspondence" that every religion and self improvement writer talks about. What is inside is what is outside.
In the hierarchical, anthropomorphized God language of "the teacher" in Ecclesiastes, those that please God are rewarded with wisdom and knowledge and joy.

Respond:
Thank you God that you respond to every move that I make toward you. Thank you for the blessings you have provided me--that people see you in me even though I often do a pretty good job of obscuring the image.

Success in my life and in my ministry--and yes, I unapologetically want success in both of those areas--begins with my own inner life. As I continue to build into my life the practices and habits that encourage my own growth, the growth of my influence will correspond. I can't fake it!