I’m sharing a song today. One that must be understood in order to understand worship. It’s by my favorite band of all time, and sung by my favorite Christian singer/songwriter/voice of all time. The challenge is simple: Boast not in your flesh, but only in Christ Jesus.
We all have a certain pride level in our lives… and it can paralyze us. It can block the effectiveness in every area of our lives… our marriages… our other relationships… our jobs… our relationship with Christ. I don’t know about you, but I find the pride sneaking into my heart when my relationship with God is not what it should be. When I miss a few days of reading His Word… when I think with my finite brain more than I pray to Him, the Infinite.
Pride causes boasting and entitlement. Humility causes trusting and reverence. It’s hard to truly worship without a humble heart.
The root of pride is insecurity, so the first thing we have to do is get rid of the insecurities that feed our “boasting.” In order for Christ to really work in and through us, we’ve got to be vessels that are clean of both. We have to recognize that His grace is truly sufficient. We do not need more than He gives us, and we should not boast in what He HAS given us. Paul understood this well.
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:5-10
When we recognize who we are in Christ and that God is bigger than all of our little issues, then we will start to be broken and we will begin to truly worship. We can’t boast in ourselves… only in Jesus. Paul knew well that his strength came only from Christ. My former pride I call my shame and nail my glory to His cross.
Here are the lyrics to I Boast No More by Caedmon’s Call:
No more my God, I boast no more of all the duties I have done.
I quit the hopes I held before to trust the merits of Thy Son.
No more my God. No more my God. No more my God. I boast no more.
Now, for the loss I bear His name. What was my gain I count my loss.
My former pride I call my shame and nail my glory to His cross.
No more my God. No more my God. No more my God. I boast no more.
Yes, and I must, I will esteem all things but loss for Jesus’ sake.
O may my soul be found in Him and of His righteousness partake.
Amen, amen.
The best obedience of my hands dares not appear before Thy throne.
But faith can answer Thy demands by pleading what my Lord has done.
No more my God. No more my God. No more my God. I boast no more.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. – Galatians 6:14
Worship can’t be about self. It must be all about boasting in Christ and praising Him for who He is.
Amen and amen.
About 31 Days of Worship
Every day in the month of October, I will be posting here about worship. Will you join me on this journey? Maybe you are interested in discussing specific topics within the area of worship. If this is you, I’d LOVE to hear from you! You can leave a comment below or send me an email.
At any time during the month, you can see all posts in this series by clicking here: 31 Days of Worship. Also, if you would like to subscribe to Grow Where You’re Planted and receive these posts in your email, you can do that here: Grow Where You’re Planted Updates.
Thanks for stopping by! I enjoy being on this worship journey with you! My prayer is that God will teach all of us to become more focused worshipers throughout this month.
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