NO FLESH SHALL GLORY IN GOD'S PRESENCE

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 2022

In John 6:63, the Bible says that the flesh, human boasting or efforts count for nothing. This suggests that boasting in the ability of the flesh displeases the Lord and it can drive us into the path that might actually prove misleading at the end.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 New International Version (NIV) 'No flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption - that, as it is written, "He who glories, let Him glory in the Lord."'

Everything we are in Christ Jesus is because of God's grace. God Himself sent His Son to die for us. We didn't ask for it! In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy because we have been delivered and made free from sin. Apart from believing, we didn't help God to make things right between us and Himself. He planned it all by His grace. This is the reason Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) says, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." God Himself chose to position us in Christ through the gift of salvation. He didn't ask for our opinion first. He did all this and much more so that no one flesh would brag or boast in His presence.

Beloved it is because of God we are in Christ Jesus, which means that its neither because we are qualified by works nor because we qualified ourselves through any other means. Christ became for us wisdom from God. Simply put, the wisdom Christ has become for us is from God Himself. Since God is the effectuator of all, the Scripture says, "If any Christian wants to brag, he should brag only about the Lord and in the Lord." In other words, bragging or boasting is allowed. However Paul is showing us the required condition or pattern for " righteous bragging."

Righteous bragging is the speech recognition of the spectacular wonders and of the unlimited power embedded in God's ability. With specific vocabularies, we can boast or glory in the Lord, irrespective of persons, circumstances and challenges we encounter. For instance, Paul said with deliberate boast and purpose: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called (Romans 8:28 WEB). Before anyone can interpret his speech wrongly, a condition is stated for the boasting. "We know" denotes that Paul was "self-assertive" and "assured" of this very truth. So he boasted in the Lord who causes all things to work in our favour.

In another passage of the Scriptures, Paul boasted regarding his ability to adjust or adapt himself to all climates and situations saying, " I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...(Philippians 4:10-12 NIV). Remarkably in verse 13, the great apostle noted that his boast is in the Lord's strength and it reads: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Before the dispensation of grace, a young David spoke to king Saul: "My lord should not lose heart. Let your servant go and fight this Philistine." It was clearly expressed that the champion named Goliath, who terrorized and defied the ranks of Israel, had been a warrior from his youth. Yet David challenged Goliath with these set of vocabulary: "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should insult the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26 NABRE).

David further answered Goliath: "You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have insulted. Today, the Lord shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will feed your dead body and the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves. For the battle belongs to the Lord, who shall deliver you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NABRE). Indeed David's boastful courage was an audacious exercise of faith in the Lord, leaving no room for timidly.

Beloved, no flesh shall glory in God's presence because it is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God (see Zechariah 4:6). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 9:23; Psalm 34:2; 2 Corinthians 10:17; Psalm 44:8; Romans 15:17; Philippians 3:3.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, my confidence is in you and the very essence of expressing my faith is void of presumption and egotism of the flesh. I function daily in divine wisdom and with the mind of Christ. Therefore, in Christ Jesus I have found remarkable reasons for boasting in things pertaining to your thoughts, purposes and counsels. Thank you Father for the life-changing and Spirit-quickening method of communicating your wonders and glory in my world in Jesus' Name, Amen!