1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. 4 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: I'm john Stongey and today's devotion is inspired by Sewod Corinthians, 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: Chapter ten, verses seventeen and eighteen, which says, let the 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: one who boasts boast in the Lord, for it is 7 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: not the one who commends himself who is approved, but 8 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: the one whom the Lord commends. There are few things 9 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: as unappealing as being forced to listen to someone boast 10 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: or brag about himself. To be in the presence of 11 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: someone who thinks so highly of himself that he dominates 12 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: the conversation with story after story of the great and 13 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: impressive things he has done is both irritating and revolting. 14 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: Boasting can be a form of pride and self worship. 15 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: It reflects the arrogant heart of Satan more so than 16 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: the humble character of Christ. But there is one form 17 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: of boasting that is healthy and proper to practice. God's 18 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: word invites us to boast about who the Lord is 19 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: and what he is actively accomplishing. Pause for just a 20 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: moment to reflect on some of the amazing things Jesus 21 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: has done in your life. He has made you a 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: new creation. He has transformed the way you think. He 23 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: has blessed you with a certain hope and a glorious future. 24 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: He carries your burdens, comforts your heart, gives purpose to 25 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: your life, and shares the victory he secured through his 26 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: resurrection with everyone who trusts in him. If we're going 27 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: to boast, it shouldn't be about our self selves. Any 28 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: boasting we do should be about our Lord. How wonderful 29 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 1: he is, all the good he has done for us, 30 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: and all the good he has in store for us. 31 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your word, and 32 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: we thank you for the privilege that it is to 33 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: be able to look at this portion of Scripture together 34 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: from the Book of Second Corinthians. And Lord, we know 35 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: that as we go throughout the course of our lives, 36 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: sometimes we try to gain an unhealthy form of attention 37 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: from others. At times we're tempted to boast about ourselves. 38 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: We boast about the things that we have, and we 39 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: boast about the things that we do, and we boast 40 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: about the things that we've received. But Lord, you tell 41 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: us in your word that if we're going to boast, 42 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: it shouldn't be about those things. It should be about you. 43 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: We should boast and brag about how wonderful you are 44 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: and how kind you've been to us, and all the 45 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: good things that you've done for us already, and all 46 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: the wonderful things you have in store. And Lord, you 47 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: caution us in this area, because it's your desire that 48 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: we not go in the direction that Satan went in. 49 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: Satan was filled with pride, and Satan was filled with 50 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: a desire to glorify himself. And Lord, admittedly we wrestle 51 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: with this. We've all done this. We've all attempted to 52 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: walk with pride, and we've attempted to glorify ourselves and 53 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: elevate ourselves above others. But that's not your desire for us. 54 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: Your desire, Father, is that we would follow and model 55 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: the humble heart of your son Jesus Christ, who chose 56 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: to sacrificially serve us for your glory. So Lord, we 57 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: pray that we would understand that example, and that we 58 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: would live it out, and that we would glorify you 59 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: in all moments of our lives, knowing that your calling 60 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: on our lives. Is not that we would be boastful, 61 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: but rather we would use our lips to give you 62 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: praise and to honor the work that you've accomplished on 63 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: our behalf. So again, we thank you Lord for this 64 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: reminder from your word today, and we commit ourselves to 65 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: you now and pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.