Consecration 2026: Day 5

DEVOTIONAL — Boasting Only in the Cross

Scripture Focus: Galatians 6:14 (NKJV)
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Expository Explanation
Paul writes Galatians to confront a dangerous distortion of the gospel—adding human effort, religious performance, and cultural approval to faith in Christ. In Galatians 6:14, Paul draws a firm line: the cross alone is the believer’s source of confidence.

To boast means to take pride, to glory, or to anchor one’s identity. Paul rejects every other basis for pride—status, success, tradition, or religious credentials—and centers everything on the cross of Christ.

The cross does two radical things:

1. It crucifies the world to us — the systems, values, and applause of the world lose their controlling power.
2. It crucifies us to the world — our old identity, driven by self-promotion and approval-seeking, is put to death.

This verse is not about rejecting the physical world, but renouncing the world’s value system. The cross redefines what matters, who we are, and what we live for.

Reference Scriptures

• 1 Corinthians 1:18 — The message of the cross is God’s power
• Philippians 3:7–8 — Counting all things loss for Christ
• Colossians 2:14–15 — The cross disarmed spiritual powers
• Romans 6:6 — Our old self was crucified with Christ

Devotional Thought
The cross doesn’t just save us—it reorients us.

What once impressed us no longer defines us.
What once controlled us no longer owns us.
What once gave us identity no longer has authority.

When the cross becomes our boast, comparison loses its grip, pride loses its voice, and freedom takes root in our hearts.

Reflection Questions

1. What do I tend to boast in—achievement, position, recognition, or Christ?
2. Where do I still feel pulled by the world’s standards of success or approval?
3. How does the cross reshape my identity and priorities?

Application Point
Re-center your identity on the cross today.
When tempted to find worth in performance or approval, remind yourself:

“My value is secured by Christ’s sacrifice, not my success.”

Live from gratitude, not striving.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the cross that saved me, freed me, and redefined my life.
Forgive me for boasting in anything other than Your finished work.
Help me live crucified to the world and alive to You.
May my life reflect humility, gratitude, and unwavering devotion to Christ alone.
In Your name, Amen.

Challenge
Pay attention to where your confidence comes from today. When pride or comparison arises, pause and declare:

“I boast only in the cross of Christ.” Let the cross be your anchor—and your anthem.