BOAST IN THE LORD - September 1, 2019
Humility is hard. It's not something we are really taught from early on. It's not something as a society that we encourage. We focus on our rights, not on giving up our rights on behalf of someone else. But notice how "rights" are focused on what we deserve, and giving up your rights for someone else is about what they don't deserve. Grace is what we don't deserve. Jesus words today encourage us instead of thinking first about our rights to think first about humbling ourselves. We would be in good company, since as the creator of the universe he didn't make a big deal about himself, but made himself nothing and was born in poverty. He didn't scream about his rights when he was unjustly arrested, unjustly condemned, and unjustly crucified. He was thinking about our salvation. And when we remember that we realize it's not about our rights, but about God's grace. And remembering that we boast in the Lord. James encourages us not to show favoritism, but mercy. Jesus seems to have the words from Proverbs in mind when he encourages us not to exalt ourselves.
► Readings:
• Proverbs 25:6-7: Do not exalt yourself.
• James 2:1-13: Look at others the way God looks at you.
• Luke 14:1, 7-14: Humble yourself.
• Psalm: 112
► Sermon theme: "Aspire to Humility"