Holy Boasting
Do you have something to boast about? You can. You can boast all you want about the things God has done for you. In Acts 14:27, Paul and his companions reported on their first missionary journey. “On arrival there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God has done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” That was not regular boasting; it was holy boasting. They were telling what God did. Holy boasting has a positive impact on the souls of all involved—both the boaster and the audience.
What is the most amazing thing that God has done for you this week that you can boast about? This week God showed me the benefit of boasting in Him to my soul and to yours.
Holy boasting should be just as normal as breathing. When was the last time you have seen a demonstration of the power of God in your life? If you don’t boast about it, how will you encourage others to hunger for it?
Let your soul boast of the Lord and see what happens to others around you. Psalm 34:2 says, “My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.” Do you know anyone who is afflicted? Boast in the Lord before them. Talk about the wonder and beauty of God. Tell others what God has done for you. See how it affects the afflicted to hear you boast in the Lord.
Now many get this boasting thing upside down. Rather than boast in the Lord, we end up boasting in ourselves. It comes so naturally for us to want to receive attention and admiration for what we do. We may even use God to make ourselves look good. Make sure your boasting is solely in Him. We are talking about Holy boasting here, not self boasting.
When you boast in the Lord souls are blessed. Why?—because God’s blessings are available to everyone. If you boast in your shiny new car, who is benefited?—you, maybe a little—definitely not spiritually. No one likes a boaster. When you brag about yourself there is no benefit to anyone, even yourself. Others are either jealous or judgmental and see you as an attention seeking, shallow person. It will do the afflicted no good to hear you boast in yourself.
Boasting in God—holy boasting does so much good because the same gift God gave to you is offered to them as well. They may not have the exact experience because God will be to them personal and specific to their need at the time.
We are an afflicted people. Every day I hear of someone losing a job, losing a spouse, worried about a child. There are lots of things afflicting the souls of people in our world. Try to tell about the great things God has done for you. Tell it in a sense of wonder and awe! Your soul will be blessed, and perhaps the soul of the other will find hope in affliction. Boast in the Lord today; let His praises constantly be on your lips. |
