All I have to boast about

As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world. (verse 14)

Read Galatians 6: 11-18

All of us boast at some time or other. Some of us do it often and with pride, others rarely and with humility. We boast when we draw other people’s attention to something we’ve done or are or have. It might be a sporting achievement or our grandchildren – we all do it.

Paul several times writes of boasting about Jesus. If I’m ready to ‘reminisce’ about a past sporting achievement, how much more should I be willing to talk about Jesus and everything he means to me. He is the core of my faith. Everything I am and have is in him. Being ‘Christ-centred’ means there is nothing I do or say in my life that he isn’t involved in. He’s not first in my life; he is my life.

So can I boast about what I have? Yes, because I have Jesus. Can I boast about what I am? Only if I speak of what Jesus has made me – not as if I made it happen, but showing what Jesus did for me. Can I boast about what I do? Only if say, ‘It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me’ (Galatians 2:20).

Father, everything I am and have and do only has meaning when it’s in Jesus. Thankyou for all you have made me and empowered me to do and say. Amen.

by Robert Turnbull, in ‘Living Water for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2001)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.