Tuesday September 27, 2011

I’m sure that when you saw the topic if this jlog, you were a bit skeptical to read that there is a good kind of boasting. We all know of someone in our life that has been a braggart. I do not like to be around that kind of person because they only like to talk about themselves and rarely ask you any questions about yourself. There are various kinds of boasting, none of which is enjoyable to be around. There are those who seem to be know it alls and have an opinion about everything and believe that their opinion is right on anything that comes out of their mouth. I have gone to the gym on a fairly consistent basis and see certain individuals that have obvious muscle strength in certain parts of their bodies and they dress in such a way so as to show off their strong parts. Living in Scottsdale, there are those who have wealth and like to flaunt their wealth by the stuff they buy or the cars they drive or the way they dress.

It would seem that reading this previous paragraph that I am looking at all the people that boast and don’t put myself in any of the three categories. The problem with that assumption is that I am tempted to boast and it isn’t pretty to write this jlog and have to experience conviction from the Holy Spirit. There are times in my life where I was boasting about something where I put myself in one or more categories above. The Lord talks about boasting and says there is only one kind of boasting that is good. “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 9:23, 24 NIV). Boasting in the things I know, or the strength I have or the stuff I own is destructive boasting. Only when we boast about our desire to know God who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness is boasting positive. Recognizing that the only reason we have wisdom or strength or stuff is the basis for God to come along side us and fill us with the very things that He is known for. When we recognize that He is the author of all the good and perfect gifts, it is then that He begins to exercise those gifts in through His children.

On this journey, be careful in your boasting to boast about the one who has power to transform your life, attitudes and your actions.