Boasting In The Lord

Boasting In The Lord

So many will boast of their status and wealth -
For too many that is all that's worth living;
I'd rather boast in my spiritual health -
I'll rejoice that I am saved and forgiven!

So many will boast in who and what they know -
Their connections are the things they do treasure;
I would rather boast in the Lord Jesus Christ -
His Word is my only sure guide and measure!

So many will boast in the things they have made -
As if this life was the end of the story;
But I would rather boast in the world to come -
Heaven above is in what I will glory.

So many will boast that they have now arrived -
Trusting in themselves - a sad situation!
But I'd rather boast in what Jesus has done -
Singing aloud of His wondrous salvation!

So many will boast of things under the Sun -
Things that will one day be shaken and scattered;
I will boast in my Father's, "My child, well done" - 
In eternity, that's all that will matter!

January 9th, 2011
Jerry Bouey

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovindkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Hebrews 12:26-28 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifying the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Matthew 25:21 His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

What will you be boasting about in 2011?

The Drive #1 – Our Praise is Like a Stream in the Valley

I was driving to work recently when a few out-of-the-ordinary happenings occurred. I like to use back roads to get to my office, and those roads have been closed lately due to overhaul construction. This has caused detours, roadblocks, and needing to remember that I have to remember to take the long way, because the back roads are closed!

But in the process, I received two valuable blocks of instruction. We will consider the first of the two in this post, where God used a valley stream to teach me things about the kind of praise he’s looking for.

I was headed to work, and forgot that the back roads were closed. Upon realizing it, I was looking for the best place to make a U-turn, when I noticed a beautiful stream beside the road. I felt an unusual stirring to pull over and look around for a few minutes, so I did.

As soon as I stepped outside of my vehicle, a voice as clear as day began speaking to me, and didn’t stop for the next 20 minutes. It told me that my praise is like a rippling stream, with the capacity of being well-pleasing to God, and that by observing this stream, I would receive some instruction. Just as I was pleased by the sight of the stream in the valley, God is pleased by our praise.

I heard and saw that praise is like a stream in the valley in 3 ways:

1. The stream was noticeable
2. Objects in the stream don’t stop the stream
3. Eyesores of the stream

1. The Stream Was Noticeable

And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. – Ezra 3:11 (KJV)

Here in Ezra we find the Jews praising the Lord, as the foundation of the temple (commissioned by Cyrus) was laid. Ezra goes on to declare at the end of the chapter that between the noise of the shouting for joy and the weeping of the old men, one could hear that something was happening a great distance away. Their praise was noticeable.

And as I thought on the valley stream before me, I noticed that this stream is visible. This particular stream wasn’t noisy, as some streams can be. But the stream was noticeable, and the stream was a very lovely organic sight.

And just as the stream in the valley was noticed by me, our praise should be noticeable to God. The stream was appealing, as our praise should flow naturally and please God. Does God notice your praise? Is your praise appealing to him? Your praise will appeal to God when God is who your praise glorifies.

2. Objects In the Stream Don’t Stop the Stream

Psa. 119:49-56

“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” (v.54)

The Lord gives us a song in our hearts, and we are to sing praises unto Him. How many songs do we know that are actually scripture verses? The psalmist says here that the Word is his song, and sang the song unto the Lord. Actually, the psalms were songs, and often were sung in the worship of the Lord. David played the harp, and wrote many of them himself, and probably sang them as he was tending the sheep. Other psalms were sung as the priests approached the temple stairs, while ascending up into the temple. Many were written for various victories, and for obtaining the blessings of God in certain areas of their lives. The Lord would, no doubt, enjoy hearing us sing scripture to Him, more than any song written by man.

Look at the 100th psalm:

Psa 100:1 (A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Psa 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psa 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

We are to come before His presence with singing, and not with a long face. We are to serve Him with gladness, and enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. That is what we do in song. We also come before Him in prayer, as if we were right there submitting our requests, but we are to come with singing and joyful hearts. Psalm 100 is an excellent approach to prayer, as if we were entering the gate of the Tabernacle, and approaching the Holy of Holies, to fall before the throne of our God. Let us all Make God’s statutes our song.