We Must Decrease; You Must Increase

I'm taking some time (mostly) away from social media until the election, and one of the best things I've found in the break is the joy of doing yoga while listening to Audrey Assad's music. I'll write more about that combo another day, but for now I want to introduce you to a lyric that has meant a lot to me from her record Fortunate Fall. (My favorite album of hers is "Inheritance," BTW. Check it out.) The song is called "Humble," and it describes the beauty of staying small.

In a crazy world where artificial Christians strive for platform while living lives of indulgence, what does it look like to seek to decrease?

I have always loved John the Baptist for understanding this about his calling, and in Tolkien, Galadriel's willingness to choose humility is stunning. Then, for our sake, our dear Lord chose the pain of dying to self out of obedience to His Father and for the benefit of others.

How beautiful to allow ourselves to be absorbed into a greater good -- to live and die for it. How restful to stop shoving and straining and simply allow ourselves to diminish.

What a good long stretch into a wholesome truth.



Humble and Human, willing to bend You are
Fashioned of flesh and the fire of life, You are
Not too proud to wear our skin
To know this weary world we're in
Humble, humble Jesus

Humble in sorrow, You gladly carried Your cross
Never refusing Your life to the weakest of us
Not too proud to bear our sin
To feel this brokenness we're in
Humble, humble Jesus

We bow our knees
We must decrease
You must increase
We lift You high

Humble in greatness, born in the likeness of man
Name above all names, holding our world in Your hands
Not too proud to dwell with us, to live in us, to die for us
Humble, humble Jesus

We bow our knees
We must decrease
You must increase
We lift You high

We bow our knees
We must decrease
You must increase
We lift You high

We lift you high [7x]

Humble
You are humble
Make me humble like You
We lift You high