"May I Never Boast"

"The apostle Paul wrote that Christ died that we should no longer live for ourselves but for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15)
To live no longer for ourselves but for Him is the essence of discipleship. That phrase sums up all we could include under the headings of disciplines; holiness and service.

But what is it that will motivate us to live not for ourselves but for Him? Paul said it is the love of Christ. "For Christ's love compels us" (2 Corinthians 5:14)

It was not a continual challenge to be more disciplined or more committed; or more holy; rather it was his constant heartfelt awareness of Christ's love for him....it was an overwhelming sense of Christ's love for him that spurrred him on.

We need to be challenged to a lifetime of committed discipleship, but that challenge needs to be based on the gospel, not on duty or guilt. Duty or guilt may motivate us for a while, but only a sense of Christ's love for us will motivate us for a lifetime....That sense of His love will motivate us in a compelling way to live for Him.

Preaching the gospel to ourselves everyday gives us hope, joy and courage.It helps us to consciously renounce any confidence in our own goodness as a means of meriting God's blessing on our lives.

The good news that our sins are forgiven because of Christ's death fill our hearts with joy, gives us courage to face the day, and offers us hope that God's favour will rest upon us, not because we are good; but because we are in Christ.

A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and grace.

Are we willing to rely on God's grace and mercy alone instead of our performance to boast in nothing except the Cross? And in the joy and confidence of that grace, we can vigorously pursue holiness.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"....(Galatians 6:14)