Forbidden to Boast? Well, Not Exactly.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
By: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Listen as you read. This is a beautiful piano version by Norm Hastings.

We begin this stanza by picking up where we left off in the first. Having counted our gains as losses, and poured contempt on our pride, Watts now invites us to ask our Lord to forbid us to boast of anything except the death of Christ our God. So there are really two elements in play in the first part of the stanza which we will focus on in today’s Tuning.

Boasting in Christ

It is a very clever turn of phrases used here. The first idea proposed is this notion that God would forbid us to boast, except about Jesus’ sacrifice. I want to approach this instead by looking at that which he is actually implying we will boast.

Though this stanza seems to start off with this idea of desiring to be forbidden to boast, it is really a prayer that we will boast in something: the incredible sacrifice of Christ on the cross, His Death. To someone who knows nothing of the efficacy of His sacrifice, this would seem like a remarkably macabre and morbid request. Why would someone want to boast in the death of someone else?

Ah, but we do know of the impact of His laying down His life. Or better yet, have begun to know it. Though there are many Scriptures which speak of what Christ accomplished on the cross, consider this one.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit…1 Peter 3:18 ESV

What do we see in this one verse?

1. He suffered once for sins
2. He, the righteous One, did this for us, the unrighteous
3. He brought us to God
4. He was put to death
5. But made alive in the spirit

He took care of sin, brought us to God, died but was made alive. If that is not something to boast in, then there never has been.

So it begs the question. Why don’t we do it more often? Sure, when we are gathered together singing His praises, boasting of Him comes easy. But often outside of that gathering, not so much.

While I think the immediate defense of our actions more often stems from the opposition we might face, or the lack of interest people seem to have had in the past, I wonder if there might be a simpler explanation. Do we really grasp the magnitude of what Jesus has already accomplished?

The answer is yes, and no. Yes we have begun to grasp it, as only eyes of faith can, but do we really understand just how remarkable this all is? That’s the no.

I believe if we did have a better grasp of it we would be more quick to boast. And what makes me so sure? Consider the things about which you easily boast. I actually want you to allow a few to come to the surface of your heart before you read the second idea, but let me help.

Let’s first be clear about what boasting is. To boast is to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities. Did that help clarify things, and maybe remind you of the last time you did that? Most of us are probably more guilty of the old, “That’s nice, but I think my ______ is a little better than yours.” We do this boasting without even noticing.

Boasting in Nothing Else

So let’s think about it this way. Have you ever caught yourself sharing a litany of accomplishments and suddenly felt like you had gone a little too far? Maybe it was not even about yourself, but someone of whom you are proud, or in whom have a vested interest?

Maybe you are thinking, “Far be it from me” to boast in what I have or can do, but this is something most of us struggle with on some level, even if the boasting is internal. All a vain attempt to feel a little better about ourselves, compared to the person to whom we are boasting.

What we really long for is a place of rest where we do not need to boast. That place of rest is found at the foot of the cross. Looking up to behold what our Savior has accomplished, puts everything else into perspective.

I want to encourage you to take a few minutes with the video log below which will guide you through an experience of reorienting yourself to Jesus and His cross. These are available every week to our Subscribers, less often to our Free Members, and only occasionally to everyone, like this one. I pray it will help you boast in the work of Christ today, and keep you from boasting in anything else.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross. I want to boast in it everyday so please show me the wonder of Your redeeming love again today. May that awareness limit my willingness to boast in my accomplishments, until it disappears entirely. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Please enjoy this video log! And the transcript below.

Video 4.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

We continue the same theme from the end of the first stanza of disdain for our accomplishments. As the prayer continues here it actually intensifies. Echo it by asking God to keep you from reveling in what you’ve done.

Now we fill the vacuum created by our unwillingness to speak of our accomplishments by making the deliberate choice to boast instead in what Christ has accomplished by His death. Ask Him to help you in this noble pursuit.

It is a good practice to routinely assess things in our lives which compete with our affection for Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what those things might be for you today.

Armed with this fresh awareness, bring that brief inventory to God and denounce each item. This will help you be unencumbered in your efforts to esteem His eternal achievements.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.