Tuesday, October 1, 2013

BOAST ONLY IN THE LORD

Time with Jesus - 2 Oct 2013

Hi all,
Attached herewith, please find a copy of my latest Daily Light Meditation in rhyme and metre.
Various meanings of the word “Boast”
angry
daring
pride
to rush
onward
arrogant
evil
puffed up
bad
glory
shrewd,
to
threaten
bold
inflated
swell
brag
noise
swollen
vanity
clever
presumption
to blow
wicked
Today’s meditation looks at the topic of boasting. 
For convenience I’ve listed a number of meanings of the word on Wiktionary. Included were a couple descriptions as follows:
  1. A brag, a loud positive appraisal of oneself.
  2. Squash – (sport) A shot where the ball is driven off a side wall and then strikes the front wall.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned Mohammed Ali/Cassius Clay aka the Louisville Lip. In the 1960’s and into the 1970’s, he was the world heavyweight boxing champion. 

There is no question of his ability. He was fast on his feet and moved with grace and style. “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” was his claim. Because of his agility, he would drop his guard, inviting his opponent to hit him. Almost none of them were able to do so while he was comparatively young. 
Only one boxer succeeded. He was Henry (the Hammer) Cooper from UK. At almost the end of one of the rounds, Clay was hurt. It took some fancy footwork by Clay’s manager to get the interval between the rounds extended long enough for Clay to recover. 
Later on Clay said Henry had hit him hard enough to blow him all the way back to his roots in Africa! Was it a “lucky punch”? Who can say? The fact remains; Henry Cooper is one of the very few boxers who almost defeated Cassius Clay. It also showed the world that Cassius Clay could be beaten.
Cassius Clay aka Mohammed Ali, is surely one of the greatest boxers of all time. The problem the world had with him was his boasting. “He would say something to the effect, ‘”He’ll go in five!” Clay was predicting that his opponent would be “knocked out” in round five. In most cases that’s what happened. Somehow, his speed and agility made his opponents look like bulls trying to get to the matador. Occasionally, the bull wins, but not very often.

The difficulty you and I have with statements like those of Cassius Clay is whether or not what they are saying is true. Comments like, “I am the greatest!” seldom have credibility. Such talk is not typical of many of our sportsmen and women. 
An exception in this regard seems to be professional wrestling. Tune in to any pre-match statements and you will find both wrestlers sounding off about how they are going to beat their opponent. The majority of them look like the sort of men you would like on your side in the event of a fight. Dear old Ken Dodd, the British comedian used the expression, “I’ll marmalise them!” to describe what he would do to the opposition. The expression didn’t catch on in the wrestling world. Perhaps it should!

For you and me, any statement like, “I’m the greatest!” should be tested. It’s either true, or it’s not. In most instances it’s not true. It may perhaps be wishful thinking. 

Much depends on who is saying what, to whom. In show biz it’s likely to be nothing more than someone trying to boost their popularity. 
Such statements can draw a crowd of people wanting to see the person fail miserably. It’s a type of advertising intended to draw a crowd, for good or bad reasons. 
“It sells newsprint” is a good way to look at it. I’m reminded of the story: ”Dog bites man”. That not news. “Man bites dog!” That’s news. Come and see it! That’s advertising!
JESUS STATEMENTS
I am the bread of life:
I am the light of the world:
I am the door of the sheep.
I am the good shepherd:
I am the resurrection, and the life
I am the way, the truth, and the life:
I am the true vine
What you and I have to decide is whether the claims made by an individual are true or not. In some cases, the claims are preposterous. For example, what do you do when someone comes and says, “I am the Messiah”? If you refer the person to Tara, it would be a sensible choice.
What about if someone tells you, “I am the greatest!”? Cassius Clay said this and it was true at that time.
What do you do if someone claims to be the best preacher since Spurgeon? Perhaps you should at least give him a hearing. It may be that he is only boasting about his preaching talent. On the other hand, test his claim to see if it’s true.

Christians seldom bother to check things out. Phyllida and I have heard many preachers who “stretch” the truth. It’s often referred to as “evangelastic preaching”. Someone might say, “1000’s came to Jesus at the service last night”. It’s worth taking the time to check it out!

Some folk are merely seeking to impress. To do so they make outrageous claims; claims that cannot be validated. Usually, such people are boasting to impress. Typically they will be like the fisherman who speaks about “the one that got away”. 

Once in ±6000 years a man will say, “6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 NLT. Some of His other claims are listed above. Was He just boasting? Christians believe what He said is true. Phyllida and I will go to our graves believing He is right!

Comments and previous Devotionals can be found on my Blog http://jimnphyllida.blogspot.com
Please forward my poetry to others you think would enjoy it. All I ask is that it is not used for commercial purposes.
Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland



Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – 2 Oct 2013
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
©
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
©
INTRODUCTION
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
BOAST ONLY IN THE LORD
In God’s eyes, there is a very small difference between forgiveness and judgement. Both are available for Him to pronounce. Judgement is the outcome of forgiveness one way or the other. Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:23-35) illustrates this beautifully. The master had a servant who owed him 10 000 talents. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. Matthew 18:24 ESV. According to Adam Clarke, this was equal to the revenue of the entire British Commonwealth. It could be even more because, as I understand, the Greek term used means an amount so large it cannot be calculated. This makes good sense. It was so large it couldn’t be repaid in a lifetime. Not even in several consecutive life-times could the average man repay such a debt. When the servant couldn’t pay, the Master forgave him the debt. This same servant had loaned a few Rand to a fellow-servant. When that man couldn’t pay, he had him arrested and thrown into prison. We all know the outcome.
One of the points of this parable was to highlight how important it is for us to be forgiving towards each other. My debt and your debt to God for a lifetime of sin is incalculable. The expression, “ten thousand talents” indicates the enormity of the amount. The few Rand owed to us by others is negligible.
Now here’s the nub of the parable. If we don’t forgive others for the few odd sins they have committed against us, we are in big trouble. God will require payment in full for our sin. Eternity itself would not be enough time to discharge our debt to Him. The connection between judgement and forgiveness is, therefore, something we determine. If we have forgiven others, He will forgive us. If we haven’t forgiven them, His judgement on us is certain and we will be condemned. In other words, your measure of forgiveness of others is the measure He will use on you! Now that’s scary! Particularly when I sit in judgement on someone else. If I declare him guilty, how much more will God find me guilty? If I forgive and release him, God will do the same with me. That’s what it means to use my measure on me. It really isn’t worth it. For the sake of your own future in God’s Kingdom, be generous and forgive others – quickly!
What has this got to do with boasting? Everything. When you boast about your own achievements you are setting yourself above your brothers and sisters. By saying, “I wouldn’t do that”, and declaring them guilty, you are implying they owe you something. Perhaps they do. But that’s not the issue. If you think you are superior, you declare them inferior. If you do that, God will declare you inferior. So much so that there will be no room in His Kingdom for you!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland

7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
There’s nothing that you have or are, that doesn’t come from God.
Consequently, judgement is something rather odd!
Whatever He has given you, was given as a gift.
Do you think your purposes you really ought to sift?
How can you make comments about what others do?
The self-same standard you have set, the Lord will use on you.
Instead, be most forgiving, you need to empathise;
Or you will find the Master will cut you down to size.
The Lord had mercy on you and poured on you His grace.
You surely didn’t earn it. In fact your rightful place,
Is in the very pit of hell. That’s where you ought to be.
But Jesus in His mercy, had pity upon thee.
Your “modus operandi” must be to strengthen those,
Whom Jesus as their Saviour, to others will disclose.
Christians are all brothers or sisters on their way
To be with Christ their Saviour on each and every day.
So you must never judge them. Perhaps you’ll see them sin.
Then give the Holy Spirit space for Him to enter in.
Remember how He saved you. He used God’s Holy Word,
That’s when you responded to what was seen and heard.
Of course you are not perfect. But Jesus wants to show,
The depth of His forgiveness to all whom He does know!
You’ve been made His creature; a jewel in His crown.
This is not the time for you to want to let Him down.
Remember His compassion did not originate,
From bleeding hearts or moral sweat. But in your sinful state!
That’s when His awesome mercy, was poured upon all men.
In ways which are so staggering, they’re far beyond our ken!
His mercy is the leveller which treats us all the same.
None of us was worthy, Not one of us can claim,
That we could be superior to any of the rest.
It’s only by His righteousness that we can pass the test.
So put away all bragging. Not one of us can boast.
The only one significant is Jesus’ Holy Ghost!
In Christ there is redemption and we are sanctified.
There’s nothing in our favour; there is no place for pride.
And when it comes to boasting, boast only in the Lord.
For He alone is worthy to be worshipped and adored.
Jim Strickland
Written 2nd Oct 2012

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV

18 He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
James 1:18 MSG

16 Compassion doesn't originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God's mercy.
Romans 9:16 MSG

27 So who can brag? No one! Are people saved by obeying the law? Not at all! They are saved because of their faith.
Romans 3:27 NIrV

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV

1 You were living in your sins and lawless ways. But in fact you were dead. 2 You used to live as sinners when you followed the ways of this world. You served the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who don't obey God. 3 At one time we all lived among them. We tried to satisfy what our sinful nature wanted to do. We followed its longings and thoughts. God was angry with us and everyone else because of the kind of people we were.
Ephesians 2:1-3 NIrV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

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