Wednesday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)

9:23 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;

24 “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.

Devotion

Every good thing that we Christians have in this life we have by the grace of God. Whether it is our intellect and academic achievements, our physical health and fitness, or the success we have in the workplace and our diligent work ethic—all of these are gifts of God. They all belong to the “Daily Bread” for which we pray in the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord warns us, as He warned the children of Israel: “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God… [lest] you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth’” (Deut. 8:11, 17).

Rather than boasting in temporary things, we should boast in the enlightenment worked in us by the Holy Spirit. We should glory in the loving kindness of God, that He would sacrifice His Son—the Bread of Life that endures to everlasting life (John 6:27). We should rejoice that He gives us His righteousness to cover our sins for our justification. We should glory in tribulations, too, knowing that they produce in us hope. “[And] hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). And we should glory in the Word of the Lord which endures forever. In short, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (1 Cor. 1:31).

Prayer: O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.