What is your boast before God?

Romans 4:1-2 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. There’s a big difference between loving others to justify ourselves before God and living to love with Jesus. Paul wanted his readers to consider how Abraham found favor with God. It wasn’t because he performed some work that pleased God. Paul made it clear that Abraham wasn’t justified by his works because God has made it clear that no man can stand before Him and boast about anything he does or has done. The only thing that man has to boast about before God is to boast in the Lord! I’m sure that means if there is anything worthy of praise or glory that occurs in our lives, it is because God has done it through Jesus, His Son, for His glory. Whatever is done for the glory of God can only occur because God gave grace upon grace out of the fullness and overflow of Christ. As John wrote in the first chapter of his gospel, “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (vs. 16). So deeds of love only occur as Jesus loves in and through us. So we don’t love so that God will approve of us when we stand before Him. We love because He has raised us up before Him, granted us favor in His Son to whom He united us, and has given us the Spirit of His Son to perform deeds of love for His glory. So the person who performs acts of love so he or she can feel good about him or herself and boast about those accomplishments, can boast before men, but not before God. The person who lives to love with Jesus has no reason to boast before men, but has great confidence to boast before God in what He has done in their lives for His glorious name. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com