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)

In this day and age it is clear that the world is full of enticements and pressure to conform to a standard defined by others. We are constantly reminded that ‘image is everything’ and we must think about how something will look before we act. Even when it comes to being ‘green’ which is admirable as stewards of God’s gifts, it is often the image that is considered most important. Many people are more concerned about looking ‘green’ than whether they are making a positive difference. Ensuring that there are labels on ‘green’ products or that their ‘green’ car stands out as being different is very important to some people. Surely, however, if the end result is positive, how can a little boasting be so bad?

It is clear from Galatians 6 that when it comes to our faith, Paul states that image is nothing. Outward boasting and the image of being a good or religious person are meaningless if not accompanied by true faith in Christ. We are of course called to provide an example to the world, but as a result of our faith guiding our actions, not to impress anyone. With the pressures of the world bombarding us, our only hope is to ask God to “crucify our sinful nature” (Galatians 5:24) and keep our eyes on the only true focus, Jesus Christ.

Lord help us to remember that:
Our hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness;
We dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
On Christ, The Solid Rock, we stand;
All other ground is sinking sand. Amen.

(Toplady, TLH #370)