Two little saplings grew side by side. Because of the action of the wind they continually crossed each other. In time the bark of each tree became wounded and the sap began to mingle, until one day they bonded together. As they grew, the stronger began to absorb the life of the weaker. One became larger and larger, while the top of the other began to wither and die. Now there are two trunks at the bottom and only one at the top. Death has taken away the one; life has triumphed in the other.

There was a time when you and Jesus Christ met and your heart was joined to His. Where are you now? Are your two lives running parallel, or does your life show more of Christ and less and less of your old sinful self? Do people see more and more Christlike character and less of you?

Can you say, in the words of the apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me"? (Gal. 2:20).

Our goal must be the same as that of John the Baptist, who said when he met Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn. 3:30).  — M.R. De Haan