Tuesday, February 28
Boasting
Scripture: Romans 3
Romans 3:27–28 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! 28 For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.
Observation
There is no room for boasting about our own righteousness before God. Boasting is excluded. We are unable to be righteous on our own—all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But we are made righteous by trusting in the faithfulness of Jesus. It is his work not ours that makes us righteous. So if we’re going to boast, it is always in Jesus, not ourselves.
Galatians 6:14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Application
Religious people can become proud of their goodness, and in our pride look down on others. Paul repeatedly forbids this and reminds us that we have no grounds for boasting in ourselves, but only in Jesus.
One of my favorite sayings is, “When you see a turtle on top of a fencepost, you know he had help.” How silly for the turtle to boast as though he did it himself.
I can be like that turtle. Self-congratulatory. But I’ve had help. Every good thing in my life can be traced back to the faithfulness of Jesus. So if I’m going to boast, it’s about him. Keep that perspective today.
Prayer: Lord, I love you and I’m so grateful for your goodness to me, your faithfulness, and that you have done for me what I could never do for myself: made me right with God.
More: Leviticus 28, Proverbs 5, Philemon