ARE YOU PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE, YOUR POSSESSIONS, AND YOUR ABILITIES?

SCRIPTURE:
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  
(Galatians 6:14)

MEDITATION:
Boasting is defined as - talking with excessive pride and self-satisfaction 
about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.
As a general rule, most people do not enjoy 
being around someone who brags about themselves or what they own.

In sports, we see individual players, during the game, trying to get the fans 
to focus on a play they made instead of being known as a team player.
The sad part is, they want accolades for ONE play 
that probably has no bearing on the final outcome of the game.

Paul had a lot of Godly wisdom and he knew 
that others do not enjoy listening to someone brag about themselves.
As a result, he wanted any bragging from his mouth 
to be about someone else; in particular, he wanted to boast about Jesus Christ.
He had good reason for bragging on Jesus; 
he wanted others to realize the incredible sacrifice He made for every sinner.

What glory is there in the cross? 
It was an instrument of torture and shame. 
Why did Paul glory in it? 
He gloried in it because the most selfless act 
ever performed by men or angels took place upon it. 
He saw it as the place upon which the Son of God displayed His love for mankind.

This was where Paul saw three important things: 
the radiant hope of the world, 
the end of the believer’s bondage to sin, 
and the love of God shown to the hearts of men. 
The agonizing death of Jesus 
restored man’s lost harmony with God, his fellowman, and Himself.  

It is very difficult for any person, with our finite limitations, 
to fully comprehend the mystery of Christ’s atonement. 
However, we can know that all who come to the cross in simple, 
trusting faith, lose all their guilty stains, and find peace with God.

ACTION:
Have you allowed too much arrogant pride to result in
your constantly telling others about yourself, your possessions and abilities?
Learn from Paul and redirect your boasting to the One who made it possible for 
you to be who you are, to have what you have, and to do the things you can do.
Look at the advice Paul gave in his letter to Peter:
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer 
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do 
this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, may I never lose sight of the fact that everything I am 
and have are blessings from You. I pray that I will always acknowledge 
that You deserve the praise, and not me. Help me to Like the Apostle Paul, 
let all of my boasting and pride be about what Jesus did for all mankind. 
Father, help me to glory in the cross of Jesus, and to more fully understand 
the tremendous meaning it has for me as a believer, and the meaning it has 
for all who come and kneel at the foot of the cross. Thank You, Jesus for 
loving me an every other sinner that much!”