Do not boast Dear child of God, It is so easy to fall into this trap. There is a fine dividing line between testifying and boasting. One can so easily confuse one with the other. Boasting can be so subtle that it needs God’s grace to discern the difference between the two. We are sometimes not even aware of the attitude we display, but people, looking on from the outside, have a keen sense for what is real and what is not. Let us pursue this for a moment. Love ~ Uncle Jacques. 1 Corinthians 4:7 ”For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” • As a child of God we should never boast; Just be humbly glad that we are part of the Heavenly host. Proverbs 27:2 ”Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” • We have been saved by God’s grace alone, and by nothing out of our own. 1 Corinthians 9:16 ”For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” • Even at our very best , we often fail the test. This is to remind us that we are no super human beings ~ We should not strive to be acknowledged, or by others to be seen. 2 Corinthians 10:13 ”We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us - a sphere which especially includes you.” • How proud and arrogant at times we get, only to forget the example Jesus did for us set. So let us be humble, and not cause other dear people to stumble. 1 Peter 5:5 ”Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. • Dear Lord, grant us a humble heart, without showing off and trying to be smart. • It should never be ”me” or ”my”, in my own strength and abilities that I apply; that is God’s keeping power to deny. 2 Corinthians 12:6 ”For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.” • Let Him in everything be our Source, to keep us on our heavenly course. When we sin and make mistakes, we must humbly admit and confess it with remorse. • We must never seek our own honour ~ that is when we on stray roads start to wander, and slowly but surely go under. 1 Peter 5:6 ”Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…” • Don’t regard this as negative speech ~ It will help us heaven to reach. By just being positive and proclaiming positive things, is not being real ~ We need to be honest, and at times admit how we feel. • That is when people in need, find comfort in our speech ~ Their hearts we will surely reach. In that way such people will accept things from God’s Word we try them to teach. 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.” Facebook: Jacques van der Hoven.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:10:36 +0000