2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 – So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

THEME OF THE DAY. THE RIGHT KIND OF BOASTING. Sometimes there are things in the Bible that “cut” both ways. What I mean in those words are some traits are sinful and yet, they may also be pleasing to the Lord. The difference lies in the object the word or traits originate or focus upon. Here are a few examples. Take jealousy. Jealousy from a human perspective is sinful; a horrible trait and in violation of the tenth commandment – You shall not covet (Exodus 20:17). Yet, from the divine side, jealousy is holy and right because the God who is jealous is holy and right. We read, For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). God is jealous for His people’s worship and attachment to Him, and this is a good display of jealously. The same thing applies to boasting. From a human side, boasting is sinful. It is a form of pride drawing attention to self, but there is a good side of boasting in humans that honors the Lord. One appears in the book of Jeremiah and is recognized by the Lord – Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

The other reference to a right kind of boasting for the Christian is in today’s scripture. We find the Apostle Paul boasting of his weaknesses; of his frailty, inadequacy, and lack of strength. In fact, he welcomed his insufficiency and powerlessness to overcome difficulties in his life like the spiritual thorn in the flesh God gave Him. Friends, are we identifying with the Apostle? Boasting in our inabilities? We live in a world that exalts self, takes pride in about anything, and all this is seen clearly in the godless secular humanism of self-esteem. Oh, we do ourselves and children great spiritual harm if we seek to promote a “feel good about yourself, take pride in yourself” within us or them. Don’t misunderstand me. This is not a call to a personal “beat down” or never to encourage excellency. But to boast anything associated with self is a dangerous place to go. It will lead to self-glory instead of God’s glory. Boast, yes, but boast in the Lord. Find our self-worth, not self-esteem, in Him and the glory of His grace that shows us our weaknesses so we may know of His strength that leads to a boasting of our weaknesses.

So, there is a right kind of boasting in God’s children. It is a boasting that begins with a focus on Christ, continues with a focus on Christ, and ultimately will end with our boasting of Him, throughout eternity.

PRAYER: “Father, may I be enabled by Your grace to boast in weaknesses so Your power may be known.”

QUOTE: “Self-sufficiency and Christ’s enabling power are not friends. Nor will they dwell in the same heart.”