In what will I boast?

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

This goes along with my reading in Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices, which talked about the temporalness of the things of this world. Brooks makes the point that even kingdoms fail. We seem to be at a huge transition point in our world's history. There is a lot of uncertainty about what comes next , so where am I going to put my hope? What will be solid enough to last? All the goods of this world are going to fade away. This also goes along with my reading from yesterday in James 1, which talks about the rich man fading away. 

Beyond that as I helped take care of my dad who is aging and has had some mental slowdowns along with some injury, it is obvious that we can't even trust our own capacities.

Lord help me to put me to see that there is hope and I can look for a better tomorrow and even to eternity. Then help me to see your clearly and make you my hope. May knowing your and making you known define my life. 

God Causes Righteousness To Spring Up.

 

Isaiah 61:10-11

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

to sprout up before all the nations.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that God really does love me like this. In fact, my faith in God's love toward me probably wavers more than any other area. I see my own unworthiness instead of His glory. That is why I need to focus on Him and let my life be a reflection of His righteousness and His salvation. If I have anything it is because He has clothed me. He is the one who causes righteousness and praise to spring up. 

Lord may your righteousness grow in me to your glory!

Pour Yourself Out

 Isaiah 58:6-12 

“Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to dwell in.

I was reading this passage this morning and the phrase "if you pour yourself out" stood out to me. Earlier in the passage, Isaiah had just talked about false religious practice, and now it is contrasted with true righteousness which is pouring yourself out sacrificially for others. He makes the claim that if we do that then God will satisfy us, and we will become stronger. This seems counter-intuitive from an earthly perspective, because it seems like we should try to get as much as we can and keep as much as we can for ourselves if we want to grow stronger and more powerful. But in God's economy, when we pour ourselves out for His sake by loving others well, He builds us up in ways that we would not do for ourselves.

This is a lesson that I am trying to continue to remind myself, and that I am trying to teach my kids and other whom I disciple. If you really want to be strong in an eternal sense then you will pour yourself out in service to others. Learn to love others well. Learn to receive God's love and give it away. 

I pray that the Lord will give me opportunities to express true sacrificial love today.