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Military Devotion – Boasting is Good – January 30, 2026
Watch the Devotion
Based on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Boasting is Good
Over this past Christmas break our 16-year-old son asked me, “Dad, can I ask you a question – it’s kind of off topic – but…. what are you proud of?” I had to think back on the 47 years of my life and talked about my marriage to my wife and the Christian home that we’ve tried to build. I told him I was proud of all our kiddos and the good friends they have chosen, the spouses that they’ve chosen – we have one son who is married to a dear faithful Christian woman. One of our daughters will be married this summer to a wonderful Christian man who will be a faithful leader in their home. I talked about the three congregations that I’ve served in my ministry, the new church building that that was constructed when I was there in Kentucky, the continuing education, the ministry to the military, all of it.
When I talked about all these things with my son I had to stop and say, “Now listen, buddy. You have to realize that I am proud of these things but none of them are because of what I did. I just happened to be there. But I wouldn’t have been able to do any of those things unless God had worked through me to do it. And despite my pride in those moments – and there was pride at times – pride that I repented of… but I couldn’t really boast in those things and be proud of them because it wasn’t my wisdom, my intellect, or my strength. It was all Christ working through me.”
What about you? What are you proud of? I know what some of you have accomplished. You have shared with me the things that you’ve done on deployments, the missions that you really can’t talk about where you saved lives or deterred the bad guys, when you’ve received commendations, your years of service. I have to give a shout out to General Johnny K. Davis who has been serving in the U.S. Army for 35 years. He’s the head of all recruiting in the U.S. Army – that’s just “Wow!”
None of the things that you accomplished in your lives is because of your efforts, your strength or your wisdom. And the most important accomplishment – your identity in Christ – is not really yours. Your faith in Christ is not really yours because it wasn’t initiated or finished by you. Listen to what the apostle Paul says:
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
You are strong. You are wise. You are righteous. You are holy. You are redeemed all because you are in Christ, who sought you out, who called you, who drew you close to himself. Boast in him. That’s good boasting, because it puts the spotlight where it needs to be, on Christ.
Prayer:
Gracious God, you call not the strong or the wise by the world’s measure, but sinners who have nothing to boast of except Christ crucified. In our callings as service members and families, keep us from trusting in rank, strength, or success, and ground us instead in your grace alone. When we feel weak or overlooked, remind us that our righteousness, holiness, and redemption are found in Jesus. Humble us under your Word, sustain us in our vocations, and teach us to boast only in the Lord; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.
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Watch the Devotion
Based on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Boasting is Good
Over this past Christmas break our 16-year-old son asked me, “Dad, can I ask you a question – it’s kind of off topic – but…. what are you proud of?” I had to think back on the 47 years of my life and talked about my marriage to my wife and the Christian home that we’ve tried to build. I told him I was proud of all our kiddos and the good friends they have chosen, the spouses that they’ve chosen – we have one son who is married to a dear faithful Christian woman. One of our daughters will be married this summer to a wonderful Christian man who will be a faithful leader in their home. I talked about the three congregations that I’ve served in my ministry, the new church building that that was constructed when I was there in Kentucky, the continuing education, the ministry to the military, all of it.
When I talked about all these things with my son I had to stop and say, “Now listen, buddy. You have to realize that I am proud of these things but none of them are because of what I did. I just happened to be there. But I wouldn’t have been able to do any of those things unless God had worked through me to do it. And despite my pride in those moments – and there was pride at times – pride that I repented of… but I couldn’t really boast in those things and be proud of them because it wasn’t my wisdom, my intellect, or my strength. It was all Christ working through me.”
What about you? What are you proud of? I know what some of you have accomplished. You have shared with me the things that you’ve done on deployments, the missions that you really can’t talk about where you saved lives or deterred the bad guys, when you’ve received commendations, your years of service. I have to give a shout out to General Johnny K. Davis who has been serving in the U.S. Army for 35 years. He’s the head of all recruiting in the U.S. Army – that’s just “Wow!”
None of the things that you accomplished in your lives is because of your efforts, your strength or your wisdom. And the most important accomplishment – your identity in Christ – is not really yours. Your faith in Christ is not really yours because it wasn’t initiated or finished by you. Listen to what the apostle Paul says:
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
You are strong. You are wise. You are righteous. You are holy. You are redeemed all because you are in Christ, who sought you out, who called you, who drew you close to himself. Boast in him. That’s good boasting, because it puts the spotlight where it needs to be, on Christ.
Prayer:
Gracious God, you call not the strong or the wise by the world’s measure, but sinners who have nothing to boast of except Christ crucified. In our callings as service members and families, keep us from trusting in rank, strength, or success, and ground us instead in your grace alone. When we feel weak or overlooked, remind us that our righteousness, holiness, and redemption are found in Jesus. Humble us under your Word, sustain us in our vocations, and teach us to boast only in the Lord; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.