Something to Brag About
Something to Brag About: Finding Our True Worth in Christ
In a world that often measures success by outward appearances and personal achievements, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others or boasting about our own accomplishments. But what if we've been looking at it all wrong? What if there's something far more meaningful and lasting to take pride in?
The truth is, we need to be careful about making judgments based on surface-level observations. It's all too common to form opinions about others – or even ourselves – based on what we can see externally. However, we can never truly know the depth of someone's commitment to God or the full extent of their faith journey. Only God knows our hearts completely.
This reminds us of an important principle: as believers, we all belong to the same Jesus. There are no "super Christians" or hierarchies of faith. While some may have walked with God longer or express their faith differently, the foundation is the same for all of us – Jesus Christ. Whether you've been a Christian for decades or just came to faith recently, you have the same Jesus and the same access to His power and authority as anyone else.
That being said, God does sometimes grant different levels of authority within the body of Christ. But this authority isn't for self-promotion or lording over others. Rather, it's given for the purpose of building up the church. Just as parents guide and nurture their children, those in spiritual leadership roles are called to train, teach, and help others grow in faith.
This brings us to a crucial point: if we say something, we need to live it out. Our actions must match our words. It's easy to talk about how we should live or what others should do, but if our own lives don't reflect those principles, we become hypocrites. Jesus reserved some of his harshest criticisms for religious leaders who said one thing but did another. He calls us to authenticity – to practice what we preach.
So what, then, do we truly have to brag about? The answer is simple yet profound: Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Any wisdom, strength, wealth, or success we might have ultimately comes from Him. Everything we have is a gift, on loan from God. He could take it all away in an instant if He chose to, yet He continues to bless us daily – even when we don't deserve it.
This is the God we serve – One who causes the sun to rise on both the righteous and unrighteous, who sends rain to nourish the crops of saints and sinners alike. His grace and provision extend far beyond what we could ever earn or merit.
Think about the stories throughout Scripture where God took ordinary, flawed individuals and used them for extraordinary purposes. A shepherd boy with a slingshot defeats a giant. A fisherman becomes the leader of the early church. Time and time again, we see God taking what the world might consider "foolish" or "weak" and using it to showcase His power and glory.
This is truly something worth bragging about – not our own accomplishments, but the incredible work of a God who can transform lives and use the most unlikely people for His purposes. When we shift our focus from self-promotion to God-promotion, we find a source of joy and confidence that can't be shaken by circumstances or comparisons.
However, it's important to recognize that we can't genuinely brag about God if we don't have a relationship with Him. Without Jesus in our lives, we're left floundering in darkness, trying to find meaning and purpose on our own. It's only through a personal connection with Christ that we gain access to this incredible source of strength, hope, and identity.
So how do we cultivate this relationship and learn to boast in the Lord rather than ourselves? Here are a few practical steps:
Regularly study God's Word: Just as we need physical food for nourishment, we need spiritual food to grow in our faith. Make Bible reading and study a consistent part of your routine.
Exercise your faith: Look for opportunities to put your beliefs into action. Whether it's serving others, sharing your testimony, or stepping out in obedience to God's leading, actively living out your faith helps it grow stronger.
Seek accountability: Surround yourself with other believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable to living out what you profess to believe.
Practice gratitude: Regularly thank God for His blessings and provision in your life. This helps shift your focus from your own abilities to His goodness.
Share what God has done: Instead of bragging about your own accomplishments, look for opportunities to tell others about how God has worked in your life.
As we learn to find our worth and identity in Christ rather than in worldly measures of success, we discover a freedom that's truly liberating. We no longer need to constantly prove ourselves or compare our journey to others. Instead, we can rest in the knowledge that we are deeply loved and valued by the Creator of the universe.
Let's challenge ourselves to change the way we think about bragging. Rather than seeking to elevate ourselves, let's become people who can't help but talk about the amazing things God has done and is doing. When we do this, not only do we give proper glory to God, but we also invite others to experience the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus.
In the end, the only thing truly worth boasting about is the cross of Christ and the new life we have in Him. Everything else pales in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus. So let's boldly and joyfully proclaim, "If I'm going to brag, I'm going to brag about what God has done!"
In a world that often measures success by outward appearances and personal achievements, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others or boasting about our own accomplishments. But what if we've been looking at it all wrong? What if there's something far more meaningful and lasting to take pride in?
The truth is, we need to be careful about making judgments based on surface-level observations. It's all too common to form opinions about others – or even ourselves – based on what we can see externally. However, we can never truly know the depth of someone's commitment to God or the full extent of their faith journey. Only God knows our hearts completely.
This reminds us of an important principle: as believers, we all belong to the same Jesus. There are no "super Christians" or hierarchies of faith. While some may have walked with God longer or express their faith differently, the foundation is the same for all of us – Jesus Christ. Whether you've been a Christian for decades or just came to faith recently, you have the same Jesus and the same access to His power and authority as anyone else.
That being said, God does sometimes grant different levels of authority within the body of Christ. But this authority isn't for self-promotion or lording over others. Rather, it's given for the purpose of building up the church. Just as parents guide and nurture their children, those in spiritual leadership roles are called to train, teach, and help others grow in faith.
This brings us to a crucial point: if we say something, we need to live it out. Our actions must match our words. It's easy to talk about how we should live or what others should do, but if our own lives don't reflect those principles, we become hypocrites. Jesus reserved some of his harshest criticisms for religious leaders who said one thing but did another. He calls us to authenticity – to practice what we preach.
So what, then, do we truly have to brag about? The answer is simple yet profound: Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Any wisdom, strength, wealth, or success we might have ultimately comes from Him. Everything we have is a gift, on loan from God. He could take it all away in an instant if He chose to, yet He continues to bless us daily – even when we don't deserve it.
This is the God we serve – One who causes the sun to rise on both the righteous and unrighteous, who sends rain to nourish the crops of saints and sinners alike. His grace and provision extend far beyond what we could ever earn or merit.
Think about the stories throughout Scripture where God took ordinary, flawed individuals and used them for extraordinary purposes. A shepherd boy with a slingshot defeats a giant. A fisherman becomes the leader of the early church. Time and time again, we see God taking what the world might consider "foolish" or "weak" and using it to showcase His power and glory.
This is truly something worth bragging about – not our own accomplishments, but the incredible work of a God who can transform lives and use the most unlikely people for His purposes. When we shift our focus from self-promotion to God-promotion, we find a source of joy and confidence that can't be shaken by circumstances or comparisons.
However, it's important to recognize that we can't genuinely brag about God if we don't have a relationship with Him. Without Jesus in our lives, we're left floundering in darkness, trying to find meaning and purpose on our own. It's only through a personal connection with Christ that we gain access to this incredible source of strength, hope, and identity.
So how do we cultivate this relationship and learn to boast in the Lord rather than ourselves? Here are a few practical steps:
Regularly study God's Word: Just as we need physical food for nourishment, we need spiritual food to grow in our faith. Make Bible reading and study a consistent part of your routine.
Exercise your faith: Look for opportunities to put your beliefs into action. Whether it's serving others, sharing your testimony, or stepping out in obedience to God's leading, actively living out your faith helps it grow stronger.
Seek accountability: Surround yourself with other believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable to living out what you profess to believe.
Practice gratitude: Regularly thank God for His blessings and provision in your life. This helps shift your focus from your own abilities to His goodness.
Share what God has done: Instead of bragging about your own accomplishments, look for opportunities to tell others about how God has worked in your life.
As we learn to find our worth and identity in Christ rather than in worldly measures of success, we discover a freedom that's truly liberating. We no longer need to constantly prove ourselves or compare our journey to others. Instead, we can rest in the knowledge that we are deeply loved and valued by the Creator of the universe.
Let's challenge ourselves to change the way we think about bragging. Rather than seeking to elevate ourselves, let's become people who can't help but talk about the amazing things God has done and is doing. When we do this, not only do we give proper glory to God, but we also invite others to experience the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus.
In the end, the only thing truly worth boasting about is the cross of Christ and the new life we have in Him. Everything else pales in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus. So let's boldly and joyfully proclaim, "If I'm going to brag, I'm going to brag about what God has done!"
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