ROMANS 5:9-11

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

TO PONDER

When I was growing up with four siblings, our parents would often tell us that there was no room for boasting. A common expression, at least to me was, ‘Stop showing off!’. They even made up a sticker which they plastered everywhere that said ‘No boasting allowed’, Okay, they didn’t really make the sticker, but the point was, there’s no need to boast.

This was one of the things we passed onto our children. You shouldn’t boast.  Leave your ego out of it, because boasting is for people who are full of themselves, who are selfish, and who tend not to think of others. 

The saying that ‘pride comes before a fall’ was part of the justification. And it’s true! If you have time, look up the Youtube clip entitled ‘Athletes who celebrated too early’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6gga_2UTtc

Every athlete involved thought they had won the point/game/race, and began boasting about it, but their joy was short-lived.

Our reading today says there is something we can boast about. There is something we are allowed to proudly tell the world about. And that is God and what he has done for us. We can proudly boast that we will live forever with Him, that we can begin again each day knowing he forgives us, and that we are never alone. So boast away friends, and share that whenever you can.    

PRAYER

Father, we have many things to thank you for. Thank you for life, for freedom, for loving us no matter what, for accepting us as your children and for giving us the opportunity to share all these things with others. Bless our actions and words when we attempt to do this. Amen 

Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping