Boast

In Jeremiah 9, there is a passage that reminds us how we are not to be prideful in our human ability,
but to understand the power of God:
23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.

We can become consumed in ourselves and think about our human accomplishments, what we have done in our own effort.  But, God wants us to become consumed with Him.  When we think of what He has done: creating us and providing us a way through the cross for us to come to know Him, anything we try to accomplish by human effort pales by comparison. He calls us to humble ourselves before Him, so that He can make us who He desires for us to be - in Christ.

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In the last two verses of 1st Corinthians 1, we can read:
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

A number of translations use the word "boasts" rather than "glories," as in "boast in the Lord."

We can rely on the power of God's Word to keep us on track with our lives and our walk with God.  Some have chosen a "life verse," perhaps a series of verses, that they have personalized in order for the purpose of motivation and clarity.  There is also great value to committing to memorizing Scripture. Whatever the tool, whatever the platform, we can all admit that the careful absorption of Scripture in our consciousness can help to mold us to the image of Christ.

My wife shared with me the other day about something she heard about the great evangelist Billy Graham.  I found the story on the ChristianHeadlines.com website.  The story says that his son, Frankin, shared in a Facebook post that his father "has a particular Bible verse displayed all over his North Carolina home."

The article relates that:

According to ChristianToday.com, the younger Graham called it his father’s life verse. "Still today, my father Billy Graham has a Bible verse pinned up on the wall in his bedroom, printed in VERY large letters. In fact, it's in the dining room, his bathroom, and several other spots around the house! Back before his 95th birthday, he was working on a sermon based on this key Scripture. It was his passion to memorize it, to saturate his heart and mind with it. He made it his life verse," Graham wrote in the recent Facebook post.

The verse, which Franklin describes as "a great verse for us to live by," is Galatians 6:14: "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

The famous evangelist will turn 99 on November 7, which is two weeks from tomorrow.  The ChristianHeadlines.com article states that, according to Franklin Graham, his father "continues to focus on Scripture and also enjoys visits from family members and close friends."

Oh, by the way, Franklin Graham recently concluded his series of 7 special meetings throughout the state of Texas last week.  The BillyGraham.org website reports that the cities Franklin visited were: Lubbock, Midland, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Round Rock, Waco, and Longview.

There are several words that I want to concentrate on...

For one thing, Franklin Graham says that even at age 99, his father continues to focus on Scripture.  This is key.  Mr. Graham has a life verse; one that can provide direction for his life.  And, there are numerous resources available in order to help us to digest God's Word better.  But, the starting point, I think, is to make time to be in the Word.  That could take the form of a one-year Bible reading plan, or some sort of daily directed study, or just setting up time to read the Word sequentially and take notes.  Perhaps you use, or have used, the Topical Memory System or other resource in order to help you to memorize Scripture.  If we get the Word into us, it can help assure that the Word is lived through us, out of us.

Now, let's think together about the content of the verse itself.  Galatians 6:14.  It speaks of boasting of nothing except the cross.  I think of the words of Jesus, the Savior of the World, who said in John 15 that without Him we can do nothing.  So, we are not called to highlight our own human ability, but to rely on and call attention to the ability of God to work through us.  And, the relationship comes as we die to self, recognizing we are crucified to the world and the world to us, and surrender to the Lord in the power of the cross.  We don't need to regard how great we are according to human effort, but how great He is!