Early Morning Manna Daily Devotion

FRIDAY, 17 MARCH 2023

TEXT: Jeremiah 9:23-10:10

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,

24: but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

25: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh—

26: Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

1: Hear what the Lord says to you, people of Israel.

2: This is what the Lord says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.

3: For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

4: They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.

5: Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

6: No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

7: Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.

8: They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols.

9: Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple— all made by skilled workers.

10: But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: A REASON TO BOAST

Every human being has an inbuilt tendency to boast and proud. The Lord pointed out a few things that could make a man proud: wisdom, strength, and wealth. These still play a very profound role in boosting human pride and arrogance against one another, even against God.

The people of Judah demonstrated their wisdom by creating dumb and helpless idols. Perhaps because of their wealth, they could acquire the most beautifully dressed and ornamented idols they worshipped in their homes and other high places. But God cannot be compared to any human being or idol because He is great and His name is mighty in power. He is "the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King" (verse 10).

No matter how well - advanced humanity has come in knowledge and wealth, these are nowhere close to God's greatness. Our boasting should be based on the relationship we have with the Lord Jesus Christ Who can save us and guarantee our eternity, unlike dumb idols.

QUESTION: Are you still boasting about your achievements and wealth?

PRAYER: Grant me the grace never to place my trust in my abilities but in Christ, The Solid Rock. Amen.