In Christ Alone (Boasting of Weakness)

Galatians 6:14

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul's words were and are clear. A warning against those who pride themselves in their achievements. Achievements given them by God. Early in the Old Testament, it had already been made clear to the Israelites to give thanks to God regularly, lest they become proud and forget the benefits of their Lord. It is easy to go day by day without being grateful, especially when we believe everything is a product of our hard work.

Those who boast of their own glory, God humbles. One prime example is Nebuchadnezzar, who believed his empire as something he could boast about. God made him suffer through seven years of exile, before he realised that it was really God who was in control.

The song in Christ Alone reminds of this. "In Christ Alone do I glory, though I could pride myself in battles won. For I've been blessed beyond measure and by his strength alone I'll overcome. And oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands, but those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand…"

We are made aware of the fact that all of our little victories are nothing in the face of the divine grace and mercy that God has blessed us with. Yet we remain adamant on boasting about our achievements, even though they are meaningless and worthless in comparison to what God has brought us. Interestingly, boasting is not a measure of strength but of weakness. John Steinbeck once said: "Perhaps the less we have, the more we are required to brag."

True enough, those who must boast rely on it to feel good about themselves, to feel a sense of completion. They aren't able to draw close to people or be confident without boasting simply because they are weak. True strength lies in those who keep silent about their strengths and rather humble themselves by boasting in their weaknesses. The notion is strange. Boasting your weakness. What does that mean?

I interpret it as meaning this: you boast in the fact that though you have so many weaknesses, so many flaws and failures, Christ was still willing to die for you on the cross, washing away all of your transgressions. Essentially, we boast in the cross, the only thing that we should boast about. After all, everything else we owe to God. The cross, we have claimed for ourselves.

Today, there are two questions we have to ask: firstly, what do we boast about? Secondly, do we live in a manner where we boast in the cross?

I don't really know why but I keep thinking about Jessica. She's so smart and capable, yet boasts not on her strength but of her weaknesses. I think she's a really strong-willed person and loves to go out of her way to help others. Thanks for being a good influence to me, Jess! LUVYA

She somehow brings this message to me everyday. Thanks Jess, yeah, I know I'm really lazy, HAHAHA