"He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:31

Why is it that we who are Christians are saved? Can we boast of our goodness, our worthiness to be chosen, of our wisdom, decision, or of our faith? What does the Bible say? "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

The apostle Paul points out to his readers in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:26-31): "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

The fact that you and I have come to know the LORD God who created the heavens and the earth and all things, and to know and trust in His mercy toward us in Christ Jesus who died for our sins and rose again, is not because of anything good in us. Indeed, we were dead in our trespasses and sins until God graciously saved us by bringing us to faith in the Son and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (cf. Eph. 1:3ff.; 2:1ff.; Titus 3:3ff.) His election and calling, too, were entirely of His grace and mercy and not the result of anything we did or did not do (2 Tim. 1:9).

Thus the apostle points out how God used the foolishness of the cross and the foolishness of preaching forgiveness of sins and life eternal through the shed blood of Jesus to save us. To the world, it remains foolishness. But to us, He has revealed it as the wisdom and power of God unto salvation. To us, who are counted fools by this world, has God revealed His wisdom. And Jesus Christ, the only-begotten of God the Father and born of the virgin Mary, "is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

So, in what can we brag and boast? Only in the Lord! As it is written in the prophet Jeremiah (9:23-24): "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." And how is it we can know these things and trust in the Lord? Entirely of His grace and mercy. Therefore, "he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord"!

We praise You, O LORD God, and give You the glory for providing salvation for us in Your Son and bringing us to know Him as our God and Savior. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]