Daily Devotional | Brag on Jesus | 2 Timothy 3:2 | Pastor Jim Cymbala

Good morning. Good morning. I greet you in German. I greet you in German. I greet you in German. Gooden Borggan. And I hope all is well with you. And I hope all is well with you. May God bless you today. I hope this May God bless you today. I hope this May God bless you today. I hope this study in second Timothy is helping you. study in second Timothy is helping you. study in second Timothy is helping you. Pray for me. Pray for me. Pray for me. Oh, that's better than anything. Pray Oh, that's better than anything. Pray Oh, that's better than anything. Pray for me. I need the Lord. I need God's for me. I need the Lord. I need God's for me. I need the Lord. I need God's help. I need to preach better, lead the help. I need to preach better, lead the help. I need to preach better, lead the church better, be a better husband, be a church better, be a better husband, be a church better, be a better husband, be a better father. And now I have better father. And now I have better father. And now I have grandchildren. I have great grandchildren. I have great grandchildren. I have great grandchildren. My great grandchild, grandchildren. My great grandchild, grandchildren. My great grandchild, Theo, who's called Bubby, that's my Theo, who's called Bubby, that's my Theo, who's called Bubby, that's my grandson, Luke's son, grandson, Luke's son, grandson, Luke's son, he's he's he's two years old. He came early to church two years old. He came early to church two years old. He came early to church last Sunday. He came in my office with last Sunday. He came in my office with last Sunday. He came in my office with his baby brother, Benji Bo. So, I'm his baby brother, Benji Bo. So, I'm his baby brother, Benji Bo. So, I'm hugging them and all that. And the hugging them and all that. And the hugging them and all that. And the prayer band now is waiting outside. prayer band now is waiting outside. prayer band now is waiting outside. They're going to come in with the They're going to come in with the They're going to come in with the pastors and we pray before the day pastors and we pray before the day pastors and we pray before the day begins.

begins. begins. He slipped out and went outside and He slipped out and went outside and He slipped out and went outside and there were maybe seven prayer band there were maybe seven prayer band there were maybe seven prayer band members out there waiting to come in. members out there waiting to come in. members out there waiting to come in. They pray. They pray. They pray. He went to each one of them and said, He went to each one of them and said, He went to each one of them and said, "What's your favorite animal?" "What's your favorite animal?" "What's your favorite animal?" Is that the kind of thing we need to be Is that the kind of thing we need to be Is that the kind of thing we need to be talking about on a Sunday? He's so cute. talking about on a Sunday? He's so cute. talking about on a Sunday? He's so cute. And uh they didn't know how to take him. And uh they didn't know how to take him. And uh they didn't know how to take him. He's just he's one of those kids that He's just he's one of those kids that He's just he's one of those kids that he's either asking your favorite animal he's either asking your favorite animal he's either asking your favorite animal or he's going no. or he's going no. or he's going no. We're trying to get him balanced. We're trying to get him balanced. We're trying to get him balanced. Remember the conference in October 2 Remember the conference in October 2 Remember the conference in October 2 through 4, fresh wind, fresh fire. Check through 4, fresh wind, fresh fire. Check through 4, fresh wind, fresh fire. Check it out on the website. it out on the website. it out on the website. But mark this, Timothy. In the last But mark this, Timothy. In the last But mark this, Timothy. In the last there will be terrible times in the last there will be terrible times in the last there will be terrible times in the last days. So fasten your seat belt. It's a days. So fasten your seat belt. It's a days. So fasten your seat belt. It's a warning. [snorts] Why would God inspire warning. [snorts] Why would God inspire warning. [snorts] Why would God inspire Paul to say that? Because he doesn't Paul to say that? Because he doesn't Paul to say that? Because he doesn't like us. No. Because he's warning us. Be like us. No. Because he's warning us. Be like us. No. Because he's warning us. Be ready for it. Don't let it catch you, ready for it. Don't let it catch you, ready for it. Don't let it catch you, throw you off balance. What's going on? throw you off balance. What's going on? throw you off balance. What's going on? I thought God is on the throne. No.

I thought God is on the throne. No. I thought God is on the throne. No. God's telling us he's permitting these God's telling us he's permitting these God's telling us he's permitting these terrible times. He's going to sift terrible times. He's going to sift terrible times. He's going to sift the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats. the goats. the goats. People who go to church, we learn, have People who go to church, we learn, have People who go to church, we learn, have a form of godliness, but deny its power. a form of godliness, but deny its power. a form of godliness, but deny its power. Verse five, they will though, and though Verse five, they will though, and though Verse five, they will though, and though they're in church, people will be lovers they're in church, people will be lovers they're in church, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money. We of themselves, lovers of money. We of themselves, lovers of money. We covered that. Now, two words, boastful, covered that. Now, two words, boastful, covered that. Now, two words, boastful, proud in in verse two, boastful and proud in in verse two, boastful and proud in in verse two, boastful and proud. Well, what's so bad about being proud. Well, what's so bad about being proud. Well, what's so bad about being boastful? Because the Bible says, "If boastful? Because the Bible says, "If boastful? Because the Bible says, "If anyone boasts, let him boast in the anyone boasts, let him boast in the anyone boasts, let him boast in the Lord." God doesn't share his glory with God doesn't share his glory with anybody. anything. anybody. anything. anybody. anything. How many people boast in their country How many people boast in their country How many people boast in their country more than they do boast in Jesus? Boast more than they do boast in Jesus? Boast more than they do boast in Jesus? Boast about their their their PhD or their about their their their PhD or their about their their their PhD or their degree or their high school degree or degree or their high school degree or degree or their high school degree or their job or their new phone. They're their job or their new phone. They're their job or their new phone. They're people are boasting about everything. people are boasting about everything. people are boasting about everything. Their their basketball team, their Their their basketball team, their Their their basketball team, their baseball team, they're boasting baseball team, they're boasting baseball team, they're boasting boasting. And you hear so few people who boasting. And you hear so few people who boasting. And you hear so few people who are like this in the past days, they are like this in the past days, they are like this in the past days, they won't boast in Jesus. They won't boast won't boast in Jesus. They won't boast won't boast in Jesus. They won't boast and praise God and give him all the and praise God and give him all the and praise God and give him all the glory.

glory. glory. We sing a song here. You are worthy of We sing a song here. You are worthy of We sing a song here. You are worthy of it all. it all. it all. You are worthy of it all. For from you You are worthy of it all. For from you You are worthy of it all. For from you are all things and to you are all are all things and to you are all are all things and to you are all things. things. things. You deserve the glory. The Bible says that God will share his The Bible says that God will share his love with us, his power, his wisdom, love with us, his power, his wisdom, love with us, his power, his wisdom, his goodness. But one thing he God does his goodness. But one thing he God does his goodness. But one thing he God does not share is his glory. He resists boastful and proud people. He resists boastful and proud people. And that's what the two words together. And that's what the two words together. And that's what the two words together. In the last days, people will have a In the last days, people will have a In the last days, people will have a form of religion, but they'll be form of religion, but they'll be form of religion, but they'll be boastful not about God. No, no, no, no, boastful not about God. No, no, no, no, boastful not about God. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. They're boasting in no, no, no, no, no. They're boasting in no, no, no, no, no. They're boasting in their country, in their color of skin, their country, in their color of skin, their country, in their color of skin, in their political persuasion, just in in their political persuasion, just in in their political persuasion, just in anything anything anything except Jesus. except Jesus. except Jesus. The thing we should boast in is this.

The thing we should boast in is this. The thing we should boast in is this. What's the best thing about me? What's the best thing about me? What's the best thing about me? What can I boast in? What can I boast in? What can I boast in? Paul says, "God forbid that I should Paul says, "God forbid that I should Paul says, "God forbid that I should boast in anything but the cross of Jesus boast in anything but the cross of Jesus boast in anything but the cross of Jesus Christ. I could boast." He says, "That I Christ. I could boast." He says, "That I Christ. I could boast." He says, "That I was a Jew of real Jews. God's chosen was a Jew of real Jews. God's chosen was a Jew of real Jews. God's chosen people in the Old Testament. I was a people in the Old Testament. I was a people in the Old Testament. I was a Pharisee. I studied at the feet of Pharisee. I studied at the feet of Pharisee. I studied at the feet of Galia, famous teacher. When it comes to Galia, famous teacher. When it comes to Galia, famous teacher. When it comes to keeping Shabbat and all the the keeping Shabbat and all the the keeping Shabbat and all the the holidays, I was faultless. holidays, I was faultless. holidays, I was faultless. He said, "I count it all dung because now I know Christ. I boast only because now I know Christ. I boast only in him." in him." in him." But in the church, these terrible times But in the church, these terrible times But in the church, these terrible times that are coming, people be boasting and that are coming, people be boasting and that are coming, people be boasting and bragging about all kinds of stuff, but bragging about all kinds of stuff, but bragging about all kinds of stuff, but not the Lord. not the Lord. not the Lord. Why don't you and I brag on the Lord Why don't you and I brag on the Lord Why don't you and I brag on the Lord today? Just tell someone casually. today? Just tell someone casually. today? Just tell someone casually. Can I just tell you what God's done in Can I just tell you what God's done in Can I just tell you what God's done in our lives, my family, my own personal our lives, my family, my own personal our lives, my family, my own personal life? Just tell someone.

life? Just tell someone. life? Just tell someone. Might lead to a great witness for Might lead to a great witness for Might lead to a great witness for Christ. Brag on him. Christ. Brag on him. Christ. Brag on him. Brag on him. Brag on him. Brag on him. I remember when I got my first new car. I remember when I got my first new car. I remember when I got my first new car. I was in college. My parents bought me a I was in college. My parents bought me a I was in college. My parents bought me a car. None of you will remember this car. car. None of you will remember this car. car. None of you will remember this car. Barracuda. Barracuda. Barracuda. I had a 58 Chevy, I had a 58 Chevy, I had a 58 Chevy, but but but I got a new car, Barracuda. The thing I got a new car, Barracuda. The thing I got a new car, Barracuda. The thing guzzles so much gas. One time I was guzzles so much gas. One time I was guzzles so much gas. One time I was getting it filled at the service station getting it filled at the service station getting it filled at the service station and the guy had a sense of humor who was and the guy had a sense of humor who was and the guy had a sense of humor who was doing it and he said, "Hey pal, you doing it and he said, "Hey pal, you doing it and he said, "Hey pal, you better turn off your engine because better turn off your engine because better turn off your engine because I can't keep up with it." Barracuda. I I can't keep up with it." Barracuda. I I can't keep up with it." Barracuda. I thought I was a bad little boy. thought I was a bad little boy. thought I was a bad little boy. My barracuda black. Um, I would brag on that. Show that off. Um, I would brag on that. Show that off. Woo! Hey guys, Woo! Hey guys, Woo! Hey guys, check out Look out the window. What's check out Look out the window. What's check out Look out the window. What's parked in front of the dorm? That's my parked in front of the dorm? That's my parked in front of the dorm? That's my bad little barracuda.

The things we brag on. The things we brag on. How about bragging on Jesus? I'm going How about bragging on Jesus? I'm going How about bragging on Jesus? I'm going to get to proud tomorrow. This this is to get to proud tomorrow. This this is to get to proud tomorrow. This this is what makes terrible times in the last what makes terrible times in the last what makes terrible times in the last days. Paul says people we come to church days. Paul says people we come to church days. Paul says people we come to church but bragging about everything else but but bragging about everything else but but bragging about everything else but Jesus. Bragging. Bragging. Let another person's lips praise you, Let another person's lips praise you, Let another person's lips praise you, not your own. If you do something well, not your own. If you do something well, not your own. If you do something well, serve well, do something, don't tell serve well, do something, don't tell serve well, do something, don't tell everyone about it. Just let other people everyone about it. Just let other people everyone about it. Just let other people say, "Hey, well done. That was a great say, "Hey, well done. That was a great say, "Hey, well done. That was a great blessing to me." blessing to me." blessing to me." Don't, any pastors watching, after you Don't, any pastors watching, after you Don't, any pastors watching, after you preach, don't go around everyone, hey, preach, don't go around everyone, hey, preach, don't go around everyone, hey, how'd you like that sermon? Was that how'd you like that sermon? Was that how'd you like that sermon? Was that dynamic? Hey, hey, come on. Look at me dynamic? Hey, hey, come on. Look at me dynamic? Hey, hey, come on. Look at me when I talk. That was a sermon. when I talk. That was a sermon. when I talk. That was a sermon. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. Let other people praise you. Don't Let other people praise you. Don't Let other people praise you. Don't praise yourself or anything about you. praise yourself or anything about you. praise yourself or anything about you. Because if everything you have comes Because if everything you have comes Because if everything you have comes from God, why would you brag about from God, why would you brag about from God, why would you brag about you're the intermediary? It all comes you're the intermediary? It all comes you're the intermediary? It all comes from God. Brag about the source. from God. Brag about the source. from God. Brag about the source. You have a beautiful baby. Thank God for You have a beautiful baby. Thank God for You have a beautiful baby. Thank God for the baby.

the baby. the baby. God gave you the baby. God g He's God gave you the baby. God g He's God gave you the baby. God g He's Jehovah Gyra, our provider. He's the Jehovah Gyra, our provider. He's the Jehovah Gyra, our provider. He's the source of every good and perfect gift. source of every good and perfect gift. source of every good and perfect gift. Come on, let's brag today on Jesus. Come on, let's brag today on Jesus. Come on, let's brag today on Jesus. Some of us haven't done that in a long Some of us haven't done that in a long Some of us haven't done that in a long time. Let's do it today. Amen. See you time. Let's do it today. Amen. See you time. Let's do it today. Amen. See you [music] next time.