Boasting
Posted by Jo | December 12, 2009
A friend of mine has a theory, and does not have a very tactful way of expressing it. He believes that Christians are some of the greatest liars. He argues we can spend much of our time singing and declaring promises of worship and adoration to God which we don’t believe or are often utterly absent from our daily lives.
Last night at be community, during the worship I was challenged by one of the lyrics we sang. From the classic song by Stuart Townend, How deep the Father’s love for us, I faltered as I sang these words:
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
During my relationship with Jesus, there have been numerous occasions where I have felt the Spirit prompt me with a call to go “back to basics.” Whether when wrestling with my identity, reminding me that above all else I’m a child of God, or when asking questions about jobs and vocation, reminding me that my primary focus should be on Him alone.
Last night I felt the Spirit remind me about grace. Throughout the New Testament, we are called and reminded to rejoice! The greek for joy and grace share the same root – so joy and rejoicing literally means being “aware of the gift” or “aware of grace.”
Do I live each day aware of the gift of grace? Am I living my life based on the primary premise that everything I have, everything I do, and indeed everything that I am is here because of God’s grace and for no other reason? Do I live a life of celebration because of what Jesus has done for me?
It’s so easy to believe that I am where and who I am right now because of what I have done. My degree, my skills and abilities, a reasonable work ethic, making the most of opportunities offered has all contributed in getting me where I am today, and where I will be tomorrow… right?
Wrong. The problem is, it’s just not true. I am who I am, my very existence is thanks to God, and has nothing to do with me. But so much of the way I live my life, how I view myself and the world around me is affected by the mistaken belief that it’s actually all about me.
And so the beautiful adoration song became a confession and a lament. A confession that I desperately want those words to be true here and now, not just a hope for the future. And a lament, because whilst God’s Spirit is at work in my life, there is still so much left untouched by the joy of grace!
