WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO BOAST ABOUT?

Reading: Romans 15: 14-19

 

As a Jewish young man, Paul had a pedigree to be proud of and many achievements to his credit for which he certainly could have boasted: “Circumcised on the 8^th day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless (Phil 3:5-6).”

 

And even when Paul met Jesus and began following Him, he could have boasted, or gloried in, the fact that he was God’s chosen instrument, “to bear [the Lord’s] name before the Gentiles, kings, and people of Israel (Acts 9: 15).” 

 

But, once he understood what Christ had done for him, Paul threw off all these things, considering them “but rubbish in order that [he] might gain Christ, that [he] may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of [his] own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ (Phil 3: 8b-9)).”  So Paul was determined to glory only in what Christ was doing through him.  In our reading today, Paul says, “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done – by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit (Romans 15: 17-19a, NIV).”

 

How about us? Do we think we have something to boast about, to glory in?  “I was baptized at the age of one month, of the Christian church, of the Lutheran denomination, a believer of believers; as to righteous acts, busier than most (reading the Word daily, doing two Bible studies, praying, giving generously); as to zeal, sharing the Gospel often and helping others in need.” Wow, I should pat myself on the back! …or could I be like Paul and count it all as garbage, knowing that my only way to true righteousness is through what Christ has done for me?

 

May these words reflect my greatest boasting all my days:

I will glory in my Redeemer whose priceless blood has ransomed me

…my only Savior before the Holy Judge

The Lamb Who is my righteousness.*

 

 

[* from I Will Glory in My Redeemer, Sovereign Grace Music, by Steve Cook & Vikki Cook]