And so they do what they should not do. …They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. [Romans 1:28b,30b (ERV)]

“Whoever boasts should boast only about the Lord.” What people say about themselves means nothing. What counts is whether the Lord says they have done well. [2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (ERV)]

It’s that time of year again: Christmas card and letter season! Years ago, two Chicago radio personalities had great fun during their “Merry Medical Christmas” specials reading medical tidbits from holiday letters. You know the ones I’m talking about: the letters that tell in great and gruesome detail about passing kidney stones, colonoscopies, allergic reactions to shellfish, and getting Montezuma’s revenge while on holiday. They use words like “pus,” “seepage,” “mucous” and “festering:” words that definitely do not evoke the spirit of Christmas! Reading these missives gives the impression that enduring medical maladies gives one bragging rights!

Fortunately, most people skip the health details in their Christmas letters; unfortunately, many do use their holiday letters to brag about everything else in their lives. They begin with their exceptionally attractive and brilliant children and continue with their even more extraordinarily beautiful and gifted grandchildren. What follows next is a list of their fabulous trips to exotic destinations, their outstanding strategies and many stellar accomplishments at work and in the community, their latest expensive purchases, their magnificent homes and furnishings, and even the number of Christmas ornaments and holiday lights on their tree. Granted, Christmas letters are a great way to share our lives with friends far and near, but many of these letters are nothing more than self-aggrandizement. The Bible is pretty clear about boastfulness: bragging about ourselves isn’t countenanced! Bragging about God, however, is! God is always pleased when we tell others about the glorious things He’s done in our lives.

Will you be sending a Christmas letter this year? After writing this devotion, I must admit that I had to rewrite mine. Has God done anything good for you lately? Do you have any of God’s Good News to share?

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will never stop singing his praises. Humble people, listen and be happy, while I brag about the Lord. Praise the Lord with me. Let us honor his name. [Psalm 34:1-3 (ERV)]

“But if someone wants to brag, then let them brag about this: Let them brag that they learned to know me. Let them brag that they understand that I am the Lord, that I am kind and fair, and that I do good things on earth. I love this kind of bragging.” This message is from the Lord. [Jeremiah 9:24 (ERV)]