Galatians 6:11-18: a reflection

11See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand. 12As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh. 14But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel. 17From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

As Paul closes his letter to the Galatians in his own hand, he sets his boast, his glory, on one thing only. Far be it from me to boast, he writes, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Others were boasting in outward things, in appearances, in religious credentials; but Paul would boast in nothing but the cross of Christ. His glory was not in his own achievements or standing, but in what Christ had done on the cross. The one thing worth boasting in, for Paul, was the cross of Christ; everything else, all the outward things people gloried in, was as nothing beside it.

Notice where Paul set his boast: in nothing but the cross of Christ. Others gloried in outward things, in appearances, in credentials that would make a good impression; but Paul refused to boast in any of these. His one boast, his one glory, was the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross, the world had been crucified to him and he to the world; its attractions and its opinions had lost their hold. Paul found his glory not in himself, not in his achievements or standing, but in what Christ had done on the cross for him. The cross was his only boast; everything else people gloried in was nothing beside it. To glory in the cross of Christ alone was Paul's settled resolve.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to boast in nothing but the cross of Christ, not in outward things. We can be tempted to find our glory in outward things, in our achievements, our standing, our credentials, the impression we make; but Paul boasted in nothing but the cross of Christ. Our true glory is not in ourselves or our achievements, but in what Christ has done for us on the cross. Do not seek your glory in outward things, in achievements or standing or appearances; boast in nothing but the cross of Christ, as Paul did. Boast in nothing but the cross of Christ, finding your glory not in your own achievements or standing but in what he has done for you, as Paul said, far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for our true glory is not in ourselves or in the outward things people prize, but in the cross of Christ, and to boast in that alone is to glory in the right thing.

Lord, as Paul closes his letter to the Galatians in his own hand, he sets his boast, his glory, on one thing only. Far be it from me to boast, he writes, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Others were boasting in outward things, in appearances, in religious credentials; but Paul would boast in nothing but the cross of Christ. His glory was not in his own achievements or standing, but in what Christ had done on the cross. Show me where Paul set his boast: in nothing but the cross of Christ. Others gloried in outward things, in credentials that would make a good impression; but Paul refused to boast in any of these. His one glory was the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross, the world had been crucified to him and he to the world; its attractions and its opinions had lost their hold. Paul found his glory not in himself, but in what Christ had done on the cross for him. Take that to my heart, for I am called to boast in nothing but the cross of Christ, not in outward things. I can be tempted to find my glory in outward things, in my achievements, my standing, the impression I make; but Paul boasted in nothing but the cross. My true glory is not in myself, but in what Christ has done for me on the cross. Keep me from seeking my glory in outward things; help me boast in nothing but the cross of Christ, Lord, finding my glory in what you have done for me, as Paul gloried in the cross alone.