Jeremiah spitting straight truth.
Jeremiah is known as "the weeping prophet." He speaks of his eyes being a fountain of tears and of weeping day and night over a nation in decline.
Throughout his words, he shares a truth from the Lord that we should all take to heart: "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, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24
It's not what others think about us that ultimately matters. But our witness of Christ and His goodness does. What we boast in matters. What we value and trust in will eventually become what our lives testify about.
Do you boast in your wisdom? Strength? Riches?
It's easy to lean on those things. But when we do, we can reveal what we are really trusting in, not Who we are trusting in.
The Lord isn't condemning wisdom, strength, or wealth in themselves. The issue is where we place our confidence. Our greatest boast should not be in what we have, what we can do, or what we know, but in knowing the Lord.
When we pursue knowing the Father more deeply and walking faithfully with Him, our lives reflect His lovingkindness, righteousness, and truth. Our obedience becomes a witness to the goodness of God.
So, for the sake of our King, King Jesus, let's examine ourselves:
When others look at your life, what do they see you trusting in?
Your intelligence? Your strength? Your money/possessions?
Or do they see someone who is surrendered to Jesus, trusting His wisdom, following His leading, and finding their identity in Him?
One of the simplest ways to be a witness for Christ is to actually live as someone who follows Christ. Our lives should point beyond ourselves and toward Him. When we do He uses our lives to draw others to Himself.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.