Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me.”

This important statement by God, recorded by Jeremiah, was quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17. We human beings have a strong tendency/desire to boast. I understand that in some cultures it’s been developed into an art form! Japanese society is rather the opposite, to the point that parents seldom, if ever, praise their children to their faces, but the desire to boast is still there. The things listed here – wisdom, physical strength, wealth – are not bad things at all, but if we trust in them rather than in the Lord who gives them to us, we get into real trouble. That’s really what this is talking about. At the end of his life Paul was able to boast, quite rightly, that “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) Knowing God is a treasure beyond any material wealth, strength beyond any human capacity, and access to perfect wisdom that puts to shame the amassed wisdom of mankind. It is only when we grasp that truth that we get our goals and priorities straight.

I had the immense advantage of being raised by parents who had this understand of life. My father in particular had much of which he could have boasted, and was recognized for some of it by an award from the Emperor of Japan, dated the day of his death. However, I can’t recall a single time I ever heard him boast. I wish I could say the same about myself! Looking back over my life, I’d say that most boasting really comes from a sense of insecurity that makes you want to inflate yourself. The better we understand that God loves us exactly as we are, even as He desires and encourages us to do better with the gifts and opportunities He has provided, the less we will need to “strut our stuff” in front of others. I think I can honestly join Paul in his affirmation in 2 Timothy 1:12, and it gives me great peace. I will face various other challenges as I live on this earth, on top of all I have come through to this point, but I know that the God who has brought me this far will indeed carry me safely to the end. It is never a matter of what I can do, because my effort is never enough, but of what God can and will do in and through me, for the blessing of others and for His glory.

Father, thank You for Your amazing patience and faithfulness. Thank You for my brother who has been given a death sentence by the doctors, yet has peace and even joy. His time of knowing You has been much shorter than mine, but He’s getting an intensive course in it! I pray for him and for all under my care, that they would fix their eyes and hearts on You indeed, making You their highest value and goal so that their hearts may be open to all You want to pour into and through them. I pray for those who are leaving today to return to the US. May they continue to grow, not only in their knowledge of You but in their application of what You have spoken to them, that they may have the joy of seeing You use them for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!