Monday, November 3, 2014

Jeremiah 9:23-24 -- On Pride and Glory

"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."
Jeremiah 9:23-24


I like that this scripture not only tells us what not to glory in, but actually goes on to tell us things that it is okay to glory in. :)  The first verse tells us basically that we shouldn't glory in our strengths.  This is a common message in the scriptures, and one that we forget often.  We get lifted up in pride and start thinking that we are better than each other, because of this or that strength.  Perhaps a better way to look at it is that we have something to learn from everyone around us, and we have something to offer everyone around us as well.  Only through sharing our strengths with each other--being learners *and* teachers--will we get the benefit of being around each other and being "each other’s clinical material" as Neal A. Maxwell said here
If we're going to glory, God gives us some things to glory in. :)  We can glory in understanding and knowing God.  And we can glory in the Lord, who does amazing things in the earth.  Perhaps to see those things we need to break out a little from our societal obsession with tragedy and be able to see the good things that are also happening.  Evidence of God's hand is there all around us, waiting to be seen.
Today, let's see and glory in the evidence of God's love and kindness.  Let's rejoice that we understand him and know him enough to communicate.  Let's see God's hand in the judgment and the righteousness that makes this world work.

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