On Boasting...

I will not boast in anything, no gifts no power no wisdom,

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer,

But this I know with all my heart, his wounds have paid my ransom.

I have sung these words, to this, one of my very favorite hymns, many times and in many different contexts. But on Friday, as I sung them in our new student convocation here at the seminary, these familiar words fell upon my heart in a brand new way.

The reality is that most of the time, I cannot say, I cannot sing these first two lines truthfully. Because the greater reality is that I actually do boast, find so much pride in so many other things- futile things, insignificant things, honestly, ridiculous things to boast in, but things I boast in nonetheless.

I have seen this so so much in myself even in my time here so far. I have found myself over and over again boasting in where I am from, my experiences, my gifts, the job I used to possess, the church I used to attend, the people I used to work with or for, good things like my friends and family, and really shallow things that I am not totally willing at this point to expose to an internet full of random strangers:)

This boasting is sometimes in the words I say, is most often present in the thoughts I think, and is deeply rooted in my heart- flowing out into my life in ways I see and ways I am sure I don't.

As I stood and sang those words on Friday night, I was overwhelmed by the thought, the imperative that this, these words, must become my prayer. And so it is that as I start school tomorrow and fully embark on this new season of my life that I make this my prayer- that the Lord by his tender graces and often severe mercy would humble me in such a way that I truly will not boast in anything- no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ his death and resurrection.

A dear friend sent me this quote on humility from John Piper the other day which really struck me, "Humility is the one grace in all our graces, that if we gaze upon it, becomes something else. It flourishes when the gaze is elsewhere- on the greatness of the grace of God in Christ."

If you are one of those who prays for me, would you please pray that I would truly fix my eyes, fix my gaze on Jesus Christ, that all my other pride and other boasting would be swallowed up by the overwhelming reality of the grace of God in Christ towards one such as me, and that my heart would be changed to boast in Christ and in Christ alone!

To Him be the Glory!