" This is what the Lord says: “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. - Jeremiah 9:23-25

As Americans, we value and celebrate those we see as successful. We value the successful businessman for building a new industry from scratch. We value the successful technologist and engineer who create the next amazing invention that improves our lives. And we value the successful athlete who succeeds at the pinnacle of their game. Probably the most appropriate example is how we all value the Luchadores, widely considered the most successful and important fantasy football team in FBCW Baptist Ballers league history. All these individuals and groups deserve admiration for excelling in their field. There is good in valuing hard work, dedication, and excellence. In fact, much of what makes America such a dynamic place is the hard work and determination of its people. Yet God has a different standard for what we as humans should value most.

In Jeremiah 9:23-25, God reveals to us the things that he finds valuable and praiseworthy. It is in that revelation that we define what we should value and pursue. When our nature calls us to boast in ourselves and our achievements, God calls us to boast in two things: 1) Understanding the LORD and 2) pursuing those things He VALUES. The LORD values mercy, the LORD values justice, and the LORD values righteousness. God calls us first and foremost to a relationship with him. He calls us to KNOW Him. To KNOW God is to KNOW and VALUE the things he delights in.

As we go throughout our week, our challenge then is to:

a. Seek to KNOW the Lord -- meditate on the scripture, it is there that God reveals himself

b. Pursue the things the Lord values -- what does it look like to exercise mercy, justice, and righteousness in our families, in our churches, in our workplace, and in our community?

My prayer is that we find our value not in our strength, not in our intellect, not in our riches -- but in knowing God and in pursuing the things he delights in: mercy, justice, and righteousness

In closing, I hope you find the following video a blessing and a challenge to look at what we value differently.

Air Force Lt. Col. Lane Haubelt is the manager of The Luchadores fantasy football team and is currently stationed in The Eisenhower School of National Security and Resources Strategy in Washington, D.C. He is connected to FBCW through Pastor Ray, his brother-in-law, and has a beautiful wife (Pastor Ray’s sister) and three wonderful children. By some miracle, Pastor Ray’s bad news Elisha’s Bears (3-4) knocked off The Luchadores (5-2) this past week. The Luchadores currently sit 3rd behind Mat and Steve Cortez’ Prestige Worldwide (6-1) and Micah Parker’s New England El Bozos (5-2).