Vainglory

Wednesday, ‎March ‎8, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me...." —Jeremiah 9:23-24

Memory of the Month: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Today's reading: DEUTERONOMY 4-6 MARK 11:1-18

Vainglory

We always read and hear of the glory of God but what about the glory of man? The Bible teaches that the only glory man has, outside of what God has done for mankind, is not a noun but a verb. The dictionary defines glory, the verb form, thusly: 'take great pride or pleasure in'.

The only 'glory' mankind knows is pride and arrogance. That mankind 'glories' in itself is 'vainglory'. Galatians 5:26 says it like this:

King James Bible

"Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:26

New International Version

"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other". Galatians 5:26

In our verse for today, we read Jeremiah's saying "but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me...." —Jeremiah 9:23-24

Philippians 2:3-Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 John 2:16-For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The New Living Translation says it like this:"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world."

Some could read this and say with astonishment. "Why do we do anything, then, if we can't be proud of it?!"

I know. I get it-what the world says. The enemy has always said the same things. "Get ahead-win-no matter the cost-people under foot are collateral damage-build up your own pride and get all the glory-conquer the world!"(This speaks of those on a grand scale.)

But what of those down here where you and I live? It may be on a smaller scale but most of mankind desires acclaim and works to build self-pride.

Relax. Step back and know that God already knows what is on your mind and how your mind works. We work hard to have the things we have. It is hard to not have pride in accomplishment. It makes us feel secure when we go to sleep.

But the world has always seen bubbles burst and will see them again. It is just the way things are here. What happens then? What happens when our pride is devastated? What happens when we wind up under somebody's feet?

My, but that sounds horrible-because it is. Life is like that when we depend on this world to deliver.

"but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me...." Jeremiah 9:24

It is hard to learn. It is hard to learn because we want-maybe not because we want so much but because we want the wrong security. God desires our desire. He wants us to want Him. He wants us to want as much as we can learn about Him. He wants us to love Him.

This world can and does deliver-sometimes really big. It can all be gone in a flash.

God is never gone. God is always reliable. God is always loving and forgiving and God always blesses-even in the middle of our heartbreak over worldly loss. God is always loving you as much as any person on the face of the earth.

God wants us to learn and grow to the point where we know only pride for what He is doing in our lives-not even our pride for what we have accomplished by His power but because God accomplished it for His kingdom and He chose for us to be there.

Don'r worry about your pride. Confess it and move on and make it a daily prayer concern. Pray that God work through you and then wait and listen and move when He says move and be amazed at what He does. Glory-have pride- in God's accomplishment-not your own.

The Glory is His.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me my pride-my vainglory. Teach me to seek and know You more and more.

Glorious Father and loving God!

In the name of Jesus,

Amen