The person John had already been talking about

A man who became important only after John spoke

The verse gives no comparison of standing

Point attention to the one who is greater than you

Build your own importance so others notice your place

Wait until people recognize your value before speaking about another

Keep the focus on yourself while mentioning the other person

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned and I need your mercy. I turn from my sin and from making myself first. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I trust you as the Lord who stands before me and above me. Come into my life, forgive me, and lead me from this day on. Amen.

Receive the One Who Was Before Me

Lord, revive your Church. Where we have promoted ourselves, humble us; where we have made leaders bigger than Jesus, turn our eyes back to the One who was before us and is greater than us. Make us a people who gladly point away from ourselves and toward Christ, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Make Your Church Point to Christ

Thank God for Christ's prior standing, for John-like witnesses who do not compete for attention, and for the grace to know that Jesus goes before us and above us.

Give Thanks for Christ Ahead of Us

Pray by naming one place where you want recognition or control. Ask God to show you any pride, then ask him to help you step aside so Christ is honored first.

Pray for a Lower Place

Lord, make my words and choices point people beyond me. Free me from needing to be first, and let others see the One who stands ahead of me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Help Me Point Beyond Myself

Father, I praise you for the One who was before John and stands above every human voice. Teach me to honor Jesus above myself, above my plans, and above my need to be first, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Praise for the One Who Stands First

οὗτός{HOO-TOS###HOO-TOHS###this one} ἐστιν{ES-TIN###EHS-TEEN###is} ὑπὲρ{HEE-PER###HEE-PEHR###about} οὗ{HOO###HOO###whom} ἐγὼ{e-GO###eh-GOH###I} εἶπον{EE-PON###EE-POHN###said} Ὀπίσω{o-PEE-so###oh-PEE-SOH###after} μου{moo###moo###me} ἔρχεται{ER-KHE-TE###EHR-KHEH-TEH###comes} ἀνὴρ{a-NEER###ah-NEER###a man} ὃς{HOS###HOHS###who} ἔμπροσθέν{EM-PROS-THEN###EHM-PROHS-THEHN###in front of} μου{moo###moo###me} γέγονεν{YE-GO-NEN###YEH-GOH-NEHN###has become} ὅτι{HO-TEE###HOH-TEE###because} πρῶτός{PRO-TOS###PROH-TOHS###before} μου{moo###moo###me} ἦν{EEN###EEN###was}

John 1:30 — DynamicTAB

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