1Corinthians 1:26   For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

2Corinthians 10:17   But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

God is not as interested in my ability to boast of my devotion to Him as He is in what His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ has already accomplished.

It greatly pleases the Father when I boast about His beloved Son in every way.  It delights Him to see me standing in faith towards Jesus, and living by faith in the reality of the completed work of Christ at the cross.

It is by faith that I please Him, and without faith I cannot please Him.  You see God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  The faith that pleases Him is about Him it is not faith in faith, it is faith in Christ!

This is relational language being used with regard to faith.  It is not the language of finding a new way to feel more accomplished spiritually so that I might boast in my own accomplishments above others.  That leads to a life of comparisons.

God has not changed, He still does not welcome any boasting in the flesh.  He still does not like His children living in comparison.

I am happy to confess to God and to others that Jesus has become my righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  Jesus is my hope of glory.  My hope of glory has nothing to do with the depth of my own devotion to God.  It has everything to do with my having faith in who Jesus is, and what Jesus accomplished. I am convinced that Jesus did it out of love for me.  Knowing His love is very important.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

This clearly shows me how to experience the fulness of God.  It is not through the methods and tactics of men and flesh based ideas of what real spirituality should look. Flesh bound notions of devotion  lead to boasting in myself and my own spiritual accomplishments.

The instruction of Ephesians is simple, clear and leads me to being able to boast only of Jesus in whom I am have found all that I need.  Christ lives in me and I have found my life eternal in Christ alone.  I encourage you my friend to join me in looking to Him, today and always!