Tag Archives: but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me

Understands And Knows Me

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The Sacramental Life - Day 322 - Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Understands And Knows Me - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 322 – Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – Growing As Disciples

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

Know Me

Do you want to know me? Yes Lord, I want to understand and know you. I don’t want to know you a little bit. It is my hope and dream and desire and goal and prayer that I will come to know you intimately. I want to walk through life with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to follow you to where you lead me. I want to do what you ask of me. This is quite a change within you. Yes, at one time I had very different priorities. You might have heard or seen me boasting in my wisdom or strength or maybe even in my riches. I did. Oddly enough, I’m not sure how any of those could have ever been my boast, I had so little of any of them. Nevertheless, I still placed my faith in myself. I trusted in my own wisdom, strength, and riches. What foolishness. There is no surer road to discouragement and defeat and depression than in relying on oneself. That was me. That is what I did. That is how I lived. What happened? What turned your life around? You turned my life around. You showed me the foolishness of my own ways. You brought me to yourself. You forgave my sin. You cleansed my unrighteous. You filled me with your Spirit. You gave me a new life to live. You caused me to hunger for you. You allowed to taste of your kindness and mercy and love. You drew me into a relationship with you. You lavished me with your love. You poured out your blessing on me. I now love you because you first loved me. Now, because I love you, I want to live in ways that delight you. What delights me? My thinking and speaking and acting like you brings you delight. My living as you lived brings you delight. My exercising kindness, justice, and righteousness, as you do, brings you delight. My bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name delights you. My living in an intimate relationship with you brings you delight. Yes, these all bring me delight. Me too. I love to live in your delight. That is very good.

Lord, it is my desire, goal, and prayer to come to understand and know you. Nothing is a close second. I will never boast in wisdom or strength or riches. They will always fail me. As I come to understand and know you, help me to live in ways that will delight you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you made it your desire, goal, and prayer to understand and know the Lord?

Living It Out…  Make it your desire, goal, and prayer to come to understand and know the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be able to live in ways that delight the Lord as you come to understand and know Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to come to understand and know Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you understand and know the Lord so you can live in ways that delight Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Sacramental Life – Day 322 – Jeremiah 9-23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Boast About This

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - Boast About This - Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – Boast About This – Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Growing As Disciples

 

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

Boast About You

What do you have that you haven’t received from me? Nothing, I know that every good and perfect gift that I have received comes from you. Yes, that’s true. Since all your gifts, talents and abilities, all you have, who you are, and hope to be comes from me, how much room does that leave for you to boast about anything? I have no room or reason to boast. You can’t boast about your great wisdom? No. You can’t boast about your astounding strength? No. You can’t boast about your abundant riches? No. Why is that? I don’t have great wisdom, astounding strength or abundant riches. No, you do not. I’m actually thankful that I have none of these. Why is that? If I had great wisdom, astounding strength or abundant riches I would become self-reliant. I would rely on myself instead of you. Are you sure of that? Yes, I’m absolutely sure. That’s good and you are right.

Is there anything that you can boast about? I really don’t even like that word. Yes, I know. But, is there anything that you are so happy and thankful for that you feel compelled to tell others about? There must be something that you take great joy in that you can’t keep quiet about. Yes, there is. Tell me. I am so thankful and happy that you show yourself to me. You speak to me so that I can hear you. You guide me so that I can follow you. You give me your wisdom so that I can know what to think and how to act. You give me your strength so that I can do all that you ask of me. You have made me rich in my relationship with you now and forever. I can boast about all these things that you have done and will do for me. I’m safe in boasting about you and your love, righteousness and justice. There is nothing special about me. What you have done for me you will do for all those who seek you with all their heart. That is worth giving thanks over and boasting about. Yes, it is. So, I will boast about you so that others will want to come to know you.

Lord, you have placed in my heart a hunger and thirst for you. I have a burning desire to know you above anything else in life. Help me to wait and watch and listen to hear and see all you are doing and saying. I want to know you.   Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Gratitude – Jeremiah 9-23-24 – Boast About This – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                               Copying not permitted                                                               http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Understands And Knows Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 155 -Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Understands And Knows Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 155 – Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – Growing As Disciples

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)  

Priority

What is the priority of your life? What will you seek? What will be your desire? With what will you be satisfied? Those are all very good questions. Do you have an answer? Yes, I have an answer. I would first like to say what I will not seek or desire. I would like to be clear about what will not satisfy me. I’m listening. I will not seek human wisdom. I have no need or desire to be considered wise by people in the world around me. I don’t need their approval or recognition or applause. The thoughts and opinions and values of this world mean nothing to me. The wisdom of the world will amount to nothing. All the wisdom of the world will one day pass away. So, seeking or boasting about human wisdom will not be a priority in my life. That’s good.

It probably does not need to be said but I will not be seeking physical strength. Why is that? It is obvious to all, including me, that I am not physically strong. I will never be confused with someone who is a muscle man. I will never be in danger of boasting about my great physical strength. That’s good. Even the very strongest of men will one day become incredibly week. All the strength in this world will one day pass away. So, seeking or boasting about physical strength will never be a priority in my life. That’s good.

What about riches? Have you ever wanted to be rich? Have you ever wanted to live in luxury? Have you ever wanted to acquire the best that this life has to offer? Have you wanted to live in a complete comfort? I would be lying if I said no to any of these questions. I have been tempted with every one of these desires. Yes, I have wanted the best that this life has to offer. But now I know that worldly riches will not satisfy. Worldly riches are here today and gone tomorrow. No one will take worldly riches with them when they leave this life. So, seeking or boasting about worldly riches will not be a priority in my life. That’s good.

I do know what is now and will continue to be the priority of my life. What’s that? It will be the priority of my life to understand and know you. Only seeking you and finding you will satisfy me. Only coming to know and love you intimately occupies the desire of my heart. Only living my life with and for you will be my pursuit. Only following and serving you will be my goal. Will I ever be able to be able to boast that I understand and know you? Certainly not. Why is that? Only you can make me able to know and love and follow and serve you with all my heart. You will make me able to understand and know you. So, I will boast in you and all that you have done for me as I make seeking you the priority of my heart and mind and life. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not boast in human wisdom, physical strength, or worldly riches. To do so would be foolish. All these will one day be of no value. Instead, it will be the priority of my life to come to understand and know you. Help me live a life that is pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… How is knowing that God cares for you helping you to give all your fear, worry and anxiety to Him?

Living It Out… Cast all your fear, worry and anxiety on God because He cares for you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can cast all your fear, worry and anxiety on God because He cares for you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are casting all your fear, worry and anxiety to God.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you cast all your fear, worry and anxiety on the Lord because He cares for you.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 155 – Jeremiah 9-23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com