It is natural for men to want to tell everyone about their accomplishments, be they occupational or familial or spiritual. There is the popular saying, “if you really did it, then it ain’t boasting!” I confess I struggle with knowing when being confident becomes being cocky and arrogant or when humility becomes self-deprecation. For example, sometimes I have found myself saying, “oh anyone could have [or would have] done that” when that may not be true. We are very poor judges of ourselves. However, the Bible tells us to boast in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 1:31, Psalm 34:2). What does that even mean?

The one thing that I can rely on reminding me that I do not have it all together is approaching the Lord. As I approach Him, I can see the my clothes in tatters and stains on my clothing (made by sin) and I am reminded of how much grace I need to even attempt to approach or to even want to approach Him. His perfection reminds me of my sins of omission and commission. This is true regardless of whether or not I just won an award, mastered something in coding, or someone told me that they admire my walk with Jesus. Approaching the Lord and really remembering who He is puts it all into perspective. I guess that is what Paul was talking about when he wrote he had a lot to boast about (Philippians 3:6-7) but he chose to boast about Christ who has saved him. Just like this guy:

This Woman is Mad at Christians – 73https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_6HfEoORuM&list=PLaiA34EaQWEW4v8TvnKtsyhOQSZUhgG6a&index=73

Paul was definitely one of those who lived with a lot of shame regarding what he had done against Jesus and His followers. When Jesus called him into the church, I am sure that many wanted to punish him for his crimes against other Christians. However, the Lord calls us to another path, one of being reminded of our own sin, His perfect grace and extending that love to others. We are all just like Paul with a history of sin. We are men who have scoffed at the Gospel and Jesus and even said the wrong things to His followers. We are all people whose mistakes and willful sins can sentence us to Hell. As we remind ourselves of the sins we have committed, we can boast in saying that Christ and only He has the power to cleanse us and bring us back into fellowship with the Father!

I realize that there are many who have stopped even wanting to try due to their remorse from the sin they committed. However, just like being afraid of the medicine your mother wanted to give you, it is the road to recovery!

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

———————————————————————————————————-W.