| “But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” – Jeremiah 9:24 |
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| HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO KNOW GOD and GROW to KNOW HIM MORE To better understand Jeremiah 9:24 we need to back up to verse 23 where we read, “Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” What do you truly value? Being honest with ourselves we tend to focus on the wrong things as we value ourselves and compare ourselves to others. We place a premium on academics and intelligence, on how smart we are. We place a premium on strength, on how powerful we are. We place a premium on wealth, on how rich we are. Worldly standards easily become our standards for self-worth and social standing. But in light of eternity, those things don’t matter. As my grandmother would say, “They are not worth a hill of beans.” From Jeremiah 9:24 we learn what really matters as God tells us that knowing Him and having a growing understanding of WHO He is should be the thing that excites us the most. Our hearts should be filled with joy that we get to know and grow in our understanding of God. As well it should be one of the most humbling experiences we have to even think we can know God. As David wrote in Psalm 8:4 “What is man that You are mindful of him?” Focusing on the right things, the important things means focusing on things to can increase, not decrease. Don’t give yourself to things that decline. Wealth and works and worldly wisdom and worldly pleasures don’t last. Sooner or later there will be someone richer, someone more superior, someone smarter. Yet when value is placed on growing in knowledge and understanding of God and who He is we find we out what our real value is and, (oh, watch this) we add value to others. Learning about God helps us to LIVE like God! As He delights in LOVE and JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS, we delight in showing love, doing justice, and practicing righteousness! Are you growing in knowing God and what His character is? Are you excited about this precious privilege to know and understand our GOD? Are you excited, honored as well as humbled to know Him and make Him known? DATE the Word on September 24 (9/24) with Jeremiah 9:24. It says, “but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Let us value what increases, not decreases. Continue Strong growing in knowing God and making Him known! And remember to DATE the Word! |