It's a matter of pre-eminence!

A.N.Onymous may well be one of the most prolific writers of all time.  The name (in its more familiar form of, simply, "Anonymous"!) crops up all over the place.

I recently came across this poem, penned by the aforementioned author:

Not merely in the words you say;
not only in the deeds confessed;
but in the most unconscious way
is Christ expressed.

Is it, perhaps, that saintly smile?
Maybe the light upon your brow?
Oh no!  I felt His presence when
you laughed, just now.

For me, it's not the truth you teach - 
to you, so clear; to me, so dim -
but, when you're near, you always bring
a sense of Him.

So, from your life, He beckons me;
and, from your heart, His love is shed.
'Til I lose sight of you, and see
the Christ instead.

For those of us who claim to be disciples of Jesus, those are challenging words - well, certainly to this particular disciple!  How often do others, who do not claim to have a personal relationship with Him, sense His presence when I am around?  Or is it the case that they see no more of Him in me than they do in anyone else?

John the Baptiser expressed what should be the desire of every believer, when he said, concerning the Saviour: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30).  The old preachers would often say -that there are three 'classes' of Christian: third-class, in whom Christ is present; second-class, in whom Christ is prominent; and first-class, in whom Christ is pre-eminent!

May all of us who own His name seek to be 'first-class' disciples - not that we might be more highly thought of, but that all of the glory might go to Him.