Given him from heaven.

John 3:27-30, And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John really puts things into perspective, for it’s easy for us to be distracted by success in a ministry. The real reason for any kind of success in any ministry comes from above. John recognized that he was there to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus, the bridegroom and not for any other purpose. Any success we have in ministry has to depend upon that principle, not on our own ego. Are we able to have this same kind of joy, even when our own efforts come to a close?

We give thanks for success in ministry and we know that it is only because of what we have received from you, O Lord; may you increase as we decrease.

ESV Lectionary