Crucified

 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.6.14.ESV

If anyone had religious cause to boast, it was Paul. He reeled off a list of his religious credentials elsewhere. Yet he went on to describe them as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.

We might be tempted to boast in various things that we feel proud of in our lives. Yet all that's worth praising is ultimately Christ, in whom is found all that is praiseworthy. There's nothing outside of Him that's worth boasting in.

There'll be nothing in hell to boast about. Absent from the blessings of Christ in that place, there will only be eternal torment and regret. We either die to the world, or we die eternally to all that is good.

If we're spiritually dead to the world, we mustn't act like spiritual zombies: hankering after the things in this place. This world and its desires are passing away: why would we live for them anymore? I'm reminded of the words of a dying Puritan: that he was leaving the realm of the dying, to enter the realm of the living.

'Sovereign Lord, please help us to boast in You, as You are worthy. May we live as we are in You, dead to the world, and calling others to come alive in You. For the honour of Your name, amen'

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