What Do You Glory In?

What Do you Glory In?

One of the things the Ukrainians said a lot during the early stages of the Russian invasion is “Glory to Ukraine”. I understand why they do this, because they want to unify their country and emphatically state that they are a free nation, not under the rule of anyone else. I really do understand their desire for this. But as a Christian, I hate hearing this phrase. As Christians we are to glory in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.

Again, Christians are to glory in our Lord and Savior. But if you are not a Christian, what do you glory in? Do you glory in our nation? Do you glory in sports? Your accomplishments at work? If you don’t glory in Christ Jesus, what do you glory in? Jeremiah 9:23-24 states: Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

God Knows You Will Worship Someone Or Something

God knows how humans are. He created us. He made us to worship Jesus. If you are not a Christian, you obviously aren’t worshiping Jesus. But God knows that you will worship someone or something, so these verses point this out. God warns you not to glory in your wisdom. Again, God created you. If you have worldly wisdom, it is wisdom because God made you to be wise. The great Creator God also tells you not to glory in your strength. That’s right, God made you that way or He made you to have the ability to be really good at sports or gave you a great voice.

Nor are you to glory in your riches. Riches are fleeting. You can have wealth one day and lose it all the next. But more importantly, you guessed it, if you have riches, it’s because of God. All good gifts come from God (James 1:17). Please don’t misinterpret the message tonight. This is not a wealth, health and prosperity message. No, in fact Jesus said that it’s hard for a rich person to enter into Heaven (Matthew 19:23). Why? Because a lot of rich people trust in their riches instead of putting their trust in Jesus. They are glorying in the wrong thing.

The Good Old Days

I have an old friend that I’ve witnessed to several times over the years. Every time I’ve visited with him since I became a Christian, I only want to talk to him about Jesus and all he wants to talk about is “the good old days”. He’s glorying in his life when he was younger and of course he wants to talk about all the women he’s known and the fast cars that he used to own.

It breaks my heart. He knows the Gospel, but sadly he thinks that he will be saved later on. It’s always something that he will do at a later time. Oh folks, we are not guaranteed our next breath, let alone tomorrow. Salvation is not something to toy with. There’s nothing more important than your eternal soul.

We are not to glory in our nation or sports figures or actors or singers, riches or any such things. Nor are we to glory in our good old days or in any human accomplishments. No, we are to glory in Jesus Christ our Lord. Again, Jeremiah 9:24 says: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Glory In Christ Alone

Oh, we are to glory in our salvation that is found in Christ Jesus and in Him alone. Do you know and understand the Lord Jesus? Are you truly saved? Have you repented of your sins and surrendered your life to the King of kings and the Lord of lords? Jesus suffered, bled and died in the place of guilty sinners. The Lord Jesus bore the wrath of God in the place of those who repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus is the sinless Son of God and He is the propitiation for our sins – for those who repent and trust in His finished work on the cross. Propitiation means that God’s wrath was satisfied when He poured it out upon His own precious Son, in the place of guilty sinners.

We are to glory in Jesus because He is worthy of all praise, honor and glory. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:11-14).

Second Peter 1:16-18 says: or we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. Jesus received His glory from God the Father. He is worth of our glory.

The Little G God Of This World

What do you glory in? But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

Do you glory in the Lord Jesus Christ or do you still glory in the good old days? Do you still glory in former achievements in sports or former accolades at work? What do you glory in? If you glory in anything other than Christ Jesus and His finished work on the cross, then you glory in vain. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14).

My friends and I have nothing to boast about. We have nothing to glory in except for Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Yes, we serve a risen Savior. We don’t idolize a dead person like the false religions of the world No, we serve our risen Lord and Savior and we will boast and glory in Jesus Christ our Lord. I ask again, what do you glory in? Do you glory in the Lord or do you glory in something doesn’t matter, that won’t last? What do you glory in?

How Deep The Father’s Love

How Deep The Father’s Love is one of my, favorite songs. It was written by Stuart Townend. I especially love the words of verse three:
I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom.

Do You Sing These Words?

Can you join us in singing these words? Are they true for you? Do you boast in Christ and in Him alone? My favorite part is the question: why should I gain from His reward?  Why should I gain from His reward? Obviously, I shouldn’t. I have nothing to brag about; nothing to boast about concerning myself. What did I bring to my salvation in Christ? Absolutely nothing except my sins that put Jesus on the cross.

I have nothing to brag about. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I have shame and guilt over my sins. But you know what? My sins have been forgiven. I’ve been cleansed. My  guilty conscience has been cleared. Jesus paid my ransom. He took my place. The Lord took my punishment! Oh, can you say the same? Are you saved? Have you repented of your sins and surrendered your life to Jesus?

Do you glory in Christ Jesus or are you like my old friend who still glories in the good old days? What do you glory in? Who or what has your heart? What do you spend your time, money and talent on? Who or what has a hold of you? Are you truly a follower of Jesus? Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior? Has Jesus paid your ransom? If not, truly repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. Do this today. You are not guaranteed your next breath. You are not guaranteed tomorrow. Life is short, it is but a vapor. Here today and gone tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation. Oh, repent and believe the Gospel. Then join my friends and I and glory in Jesus Christ. He is the only one worthy of glorying in.

(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on July 22, 2022)