Love as Brethren – Don’t Boast!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren …” 1 Peter 3v8 (KJV)

1 Corinthians 13v4 tells us that love does not boast, does not vaunt itself! To boast is “to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself…Boast, brag imply vocal self-praise or claims to superiority over others. Boast usually refers to a particular ability, possession, etc., that may be one of such king as to justify a good deal of pride.” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boast?s=t). But love does not boast! 1 Corinthians 4v7 (NLT) says “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?” Brethren, let’s be careful. All we have comes from God, even the very breath of life. Let’s not ever forget our God. The Lord warned the children of Israel that after He had brought them to a good land, and their herds multiply … “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8v17-18). We make our boast in the Lord. He is our sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3v5), righteousness, Provider (Psalm 23v1), Rock (Psalm 18v2), Refuge and Fortress (Psalm 91v2), Shield, the glory and the lifter up of our head (Psalm 3v3). Our salvation, justification (Romans 4v25), redemption (Galatians 3v13), gifts (1 Corinthians 12v4-7), grace to give (2 Corinthians 9v14), strength (Philippians 4v13), is all from Him. 1 Corinthians 1v30 (KJV) says “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” John 15v5 (KJV) says “I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” So what are you boasting about?

Supplementary Text

“Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him who wields it back and forth? As if a rod should wield those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift itself up as if it were not wood [but a man of God]!” Isaiah 10v15 (AMP)

Father, I thank You for Your Word. Please forgive me for every boasting I have engaged in. Help me to make my boast only in You in Jesus name, amen.