by David Brenneman
"Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God." Psalms 20:7.
"Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever—That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay. For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names. But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish. This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. Selah. As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation. But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself—And though men praise you when you do well for yourself--He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish." Psalms 49:5-20.
More times than I want to recount I have had people boast of themselves before me. Ranting and raving at who they are, what they have done, what they think of me, the list goes on and on.
But...what does the Spirit say through the Word of God?
Paul wrote "If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness." 2 Corinthians 11:30.
"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
God looks at the heart. The inner man is how it's often referred to.
What's inside of you is what matters. Not what your outward appearance shows. Achievements really don't matter unless it's in the work of Jesus Christ in your life.
It's actually an honor when people rage at Believers when in truth they're raging at God because of the revealing of sin in their lives. When people rage for other reasons then it's not.
Shaking a fist at God has never ever benefited anyone at any time. Has not nor will it ever.
Right now there's people as close as family doing this in my life as well as coworkers who are merely acquaintances thumbing their noses up at God because of believing they are right and He is wrong about how their lives should be lived.
They boast in their decisions. Boast in their achievements. Pointing to what they have or have succeeded in doing or are doing as reasons to say that they're right and God is wrong.
"Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalms 27:12-14.
When people rage, and lie, and curse, they're really mad at God and since they cannot stop God nor can they face Him in the here and now...they will go after His representatives.
So what are we to do? “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12.
We rest in the truth that no matter what manner of evil...God wins.
No matter the lies...God knows the truth.
No matter the confidence of the unbelieving...Jesus speaks a word and they're done.
No matter what becomes of me...nothing will separate me from the love of Christ Jesus.
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39.
Raging at me usually gets people nowhere. In due time God has always revealed the truth of things.
Though people fall away and relationships be broken, maybe for a time maybe forever, my boast will be in the name of my God.
Though lies be said of me...my boast will be in the name of my God.
In all their raging...they prove the word of God true.
My Dear Reader...realize that Jesus went through excruciating ordeals to bring salvation to all men and women. Jesus was mocked, ridiculed. He was a man of sorrows well acquainted with grief.
And had done nothing wrong.
Whether people believe what you're saying in regards to how Jesus works through the Spirit or not...it doesn't change the work of God in their lives or yours.
Trusting in the Lord with all your heart means to not get in His way when He's dealing with others. Join Him if He should have you help but don't get ahead of Him.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life...not us.
Would God alter great and massive things in our world to reach a soul for Jesus? Absolutely. Read your Bible. Has happened before. Would people in the lives of some be taken in order for the Spirit to get through to someone to save them? Yes. This too has happened before.
Boasting in the works of God isn't at all a bad thing. Whether or not people accept it or not.
What do you boast in? Who do you boast in?
I know this...Jesus worked in someone's life intentionally in order to show me Jesus and His gift of salvation and I received it. Jesus works in the lives of people to show them the same. Whether people rage or not God is still the same yesterday, today and forever. The reason to find salvation in Jesus Christ alone are the same today as it was yesterday.
Regardless of how people treat Believers...He still holds them in His hands.
As for me and my house...we will follow Jesus. Our boast is in what He's done for us and what He can do for you.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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