Day 63

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14).

It's easy to think that we are the cause of our own success when things are going well. We tend to give praise to our intelligence, skill, or ability as the reason for being so successful. This can even happen in our Christian walk with Jesus Christ.

We might say things like, "I am too mature to do something that sinful" or "I am such a strong Christian because I read my Bible and pray every day." But in this aren't we boasting about ourselves? Aren't we glorifying our self over and above Christ.

This is what King Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel chapter four. He was walking through his garden one day and he said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (v. 30).

He had taken no thought and given no credit to the Lord God for building the kingdom of Babylon into a great nation. Nebuchadnezzar had nothing to do with it. And for this wicked boasting God made Nebuchadnezzar to be a sign for us all:

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel 4:31-32)

When we boast in our self we not only rob God's glory, but we rob ourselves of the grace God demonstrates in our lives. Let us never forget the grace God has demonstrated to us through Christ Jesus and applied by the Spirit of God:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Sola Gratia,

Jay Silvas