All Boasting

When was the last time you called yourself an idiot?  When you really blew it and felt so stupid about what you had said or done?  Or maybe you called someone else an idiot; oh, not in so many words, but certainly in your heart.  Think about that a minute. 

Have you ever considered both those name-callings "boasting"?  Might it be that you think you're better than that idiocy you just performed, that you disappoint yourself by your behavior sometimes?  Certainly you are better than that idiot driving next to you, or standing in front of you in the express checkout, or living in your house with you.  Our high views of ourselves are surely boasting!  "I would never do that."  "I used to act like that, but I'm really glad I've grown up."  "Don't they know that Christians don't act like that?  If only they were more like me."  You get the picture. 

 

Now, while self-evaluation is necessary, self-congratulation is not.  There is only one thing, one thing!, that makes us good and righteous and it is the blood of Christ.  Nothing more and nothing less.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. . . .This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. . . . Then what becomes of our boasting?  It is excluded.  (Romans 3:23-27)  Elyse Fitzpatrick puts it this way:  "Only the pride-annihilating message of the cross has the power to destroy our illogical yet intractable faith in ourselves."  (taken from Comforts from Romans, Day 9, 2013)

My husband reminds me of "Day 9" in Romans lately whenever I make judgments of myself or others.  And he's right.  All boasting is vain and coming from a self-absorbed heart, except the boasting that proclaims His goodness and righteousness and faithfulness, the goodness that He bestowed on us when we became His.  O happy day: we can let go of our selves and that image of goodness we want so badly, and let ourselves be dressed in His goodness. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God [and Him only!], for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.  (Isaiah 61:10)

Praise Him alone for an escape from my idiocy!