Jeremiah 9:23: This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches…
Heavenly Father, your Word anticipates every dead end we’re tempted to enter, when you don’t seem to be enough to fill the longings of our hearts, or heal the pain in our stories. I wish, to use Jeremiah’s list, “wisdom, strength, and riches” were the only three things I wish I had more of when I’m feeling vulnerable or fearful, needy or greedy. It seems like the list of false-boasts is as long as I’m tempted to say, “If only I had…”
I so look forward to the day when I’ll never complain or compare, murmur and measure, envy or covet again. My theology is still a resounding “Jesus + nothing is enough”; but sometimes my heart isn’t as convinced as my head.
Jeremiah 24: but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they know me…
Father, I want to boast vigorously and wisely. Thank you for anticipating our weakness, and for constantly wooing our hearts back to gospel sanity—back to Jesus. You’re more prone to pursue than we’re prone to wander. You’re better at forgiving than we are at sinning. You’re more generous than we are foolish.
Indeed, what is my boast? That you know me, love me, and delight in me, Father. That alone explains why I can boast, trust, and rest in knowing you. I love you, only because you first loved me, and gave Jesus for me. Thank you, a gazillion times over.
…that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 24
Your kindness, justice, and righteousness were most clearly revealed on earth, when you sent Jesus into the world. Through Jesus, you have lavished immeasurable kindness on us, you satisfied every demand of justice by his cross, and you’ve given us the gift of his perfect righteousness. And you did all of this with great joy. For so great a salvation and so great a Savior, I praise, bless, and adore you, Father. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus strong and loving name.