8 Ways to Brag About God

1 Corinthians 1:31

“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

It is pretty natural to boast. Even when I don’t say it out loud my inner conversation is too often boastful. For some reason we want people around us to notice our achievements, our possessions, our kids, our ideas and our good deeds.

Paul says if you’re going to boast, boast about God? He quotes from a passage of Hebrew Scripture (Jeremiah 10:23-24).

This is what the LORD says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

   or the strong boast of their strength

   or the rich boast of their riches,

but let the one who boasts boast about this:

   that they have the understanding to know me,

   that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

Here are eight practical ways to boast about God.

1. Speak well of your church. Anyone can criticise a church. What could be easier? Find something that is evidence of God’s blessing in your church and talk about it at school and work, at the club and in the café. The culture is constantly belittling and diminishing the church. Speak well of Jesus' church. Brag about her as you would any bride. 

2. Celebrate answers to prayer. Take note when God responds to your personal and group prayer life. Tell the stories of blessing the same way you would talk about a great bargain you found in the shops or a business deal that succeeded. Brag about God’s intervention in everyday life. Who cares if others don’t see it that way? Your calling is not to explain or convince but simply to “boast”!

3. Salt conversations with gospel. Gospel is a churchy word. But not in Jesus’ day. Then it was an everyday word meaning something like: “really good, culture-impacting news”. That is what believers have in our relationships with Jesus. I want to become as comfortable speaking Jesus’ gospel as I am boasting good news about my family. (Gal 6:14)

4. Acknowledge God when justice happens. Kindness, justice and righteousness are character qualities of God. He is the one who exercises them on earth. Could we say something like: “I believe God played a part in that” whenever we hear about kindness and justice being lived out? Many good people participate but God is the author of all that is right.

5. Credit beauty to God. Popular western culture credits the wonder of nature to the chance alignment of random complexities – it just happened! Christian faith offers a different story. Without having an argument every time, I hope I can boast God’s creative and artist genius at each display of his wonder.

6. Talk enthusiastically about good things Christian people are doing. Is someone generous? Tell a friend about it. Are some Christians you know fostering well-being in the neighbourhood? Promote their actions. Sometimes you will name names and sometimes you will choose to keep it anonymous. But be sure to make it known when the person’s actions are motivated by their God-life. (2 Cor. 9:2)

7. Describe the blessings of your personal walk with God. Paul boasts about his inadequacy in order to spotlight God’s support and provision (2 Cor. 12:9). One way to boast in the Lord is to talk about what he has done in your life.

8. Celebrate God’s dream for earth’s future. Vision makes a good boast. The big-shot entrepreneur says: “Here’s what I’m gonna do”, and every one applauds his big plans. Let’s help people applaud God. Here’s what he’s gonna do – bring every power and authority into line until justice rolls down like a river. Brag on that!

Boast in the Lord! Even if you are someone great (Acts 8:9) never forget there is someone greater.

Questions

• What might stop you from boasting “in the Lord”?
• Which item in this list resonates with you? What can you do more of?