Scripture:
This is what the LORD says: “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
– Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB)
Money, power, knowledge, these are the prized possessions of this society. Their pursuit accounts for most of the aspirational energy we burn. It is not immoral; it is not wrong or misguided – until they become the way we try to validate our lives. When our identity is defined by our productivity, our influence, or our accumulated knowledge of the world, we create an impediment to the identity God has crafted for us. We distance ourselves from God’s presence, and that is the definition of sin.
The good news is, we are defined not by these things, but by our relationship to God. We are his beloved children; we are His redeemed. When this is how we define ourselves, we are justified in being proud of ourselves and sharing it with others. This is how to know God with such intimacy that He is made know through us.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for all the things that I place ahead of my relationship with You. Forgive me for giving You the leftovers of my devotion. I commit to a new relationship with You. I want to know You with such confidence that You are made known through me.