I will boast

Pride. Ugh, I hate it, and I hate that I struggle with so many different versions of it in so many different areas at so many different times. Selfishness, high expectations, wanting attention, pride in and of itself... it's just ridiculous. Just when I think that God and I have finally taken some big steps towards ridding me of it, I find myself giving me a high five, and we're back at square one. And then there's the problem that, as you grow, the people close to you and supporting you and prodding you on notice and give you a complement or tidbit of encouragement, and you have to immediately seize it so that you can feel encouraged without it seeping into that pool of pride that keeps wanting to grow. Christians are meant to encourage! But sometimes, I think it'd be easier on me if they didn't.

Anyways, my little frustration with pride tonight stems from this:

"He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:14

If I were Jesus, I wouldn't want to share my glory with anyone. Why should I? I'm God, I came down and became a measly human, I did incredible acts and touched the lives of so many people, I died, I kicked Satan in the face with a steel-toed boot, I came back to life. Me. I'm Jesus, and I did that. The glory is, therefore, mine.

SUCH a good thing that I'm not Jesus.

But here's the thing - this verse right here... I'm going to share in the glory of Jesus. Pause. The glory of Jesus. I can't even begin to think of what that entails, of how deep and awesome (in the sense of inspiring awe, not being rad and hip and groovy, although it probably is) that must be. It's the glory of the entire world, it's the glory of humanity throughout space and time, it's the glory of the heavens and the spirits, it's the glory of all creation, it's the glory of all thought and emotion, it's the glory of God.

I get to share in that, and that doesn't seem fair. I didn't do a thing. Well, no, back that up. I've done plenty. I've messed up more times that I care to mention or even could, I've promised Him stuff and backed out, I've placed this big giant smear on His message. I lose focus when life gets hectic. I'm selfish and prideful and love attention. I'm this rag-tag girl who isn't worth mentioning, let alone saving. Yes, I've done plenty, and none of it has been good. But I get to share in that incredible and rad and groovy glory, and why?

Only by and through and thanks to grace.

And that truth right there removes all reason and cause for boasting and pride. I don't stand in and share the glory of Christ because of a single thing that I've done. I can stand in the presence of God, and know fully that I have absolutely no right to be there. I have nothing of myself to brag of, to take credit for. The only way that I can stand there is because Jesus made me clean and covers me in a full and indescribable grace! I'll be sharing in the glory of Jesus, but all of the glory goes to Him for even letting me, for even making that possible! My pride is only in Christ, and my attention is on Him and not me, never me! Everything in me should point to the glory of Jesus.

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom
Or let the strong man boast in his strength
Let not the rich man boast in his riches
But let the humble come and give thanks
To the One who made us, the One who saved us

I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One Who's worthy
I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One Who's worthy, He's worthy

That truth seems so obvious, but I've found that it's good to take a refreshing course in the obvious every now and then because sometimes we lose it in delving into the less obvious. Sometimes we forget one set of lessons we're working on because we've been given another set to add to it. So God, thanks for the reminder. You're so awesome/groovy/rad.