No SHAME! Pt.1

With the Fall of Mankind due to Adam’s disobedience recounted in Genesis 3, feelings of shame invaded the heart and soul of humankind, even that of some children of GOD.

The dictionary definition of “shame” is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior; a loss of respect or esteem; dishonor.

GOD the Father did the unthinkable to remove from us forever the taint of our wrong and foolish behaviors, our sin, and bring us into His righteousness. He sent His only SON to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Thus, prolonged feelings of shame ought not to be a way of life for a child of GOD.

Yet, many who claim to accept CHRIST’s atonement on our behalf are persistently revisit the past and hold on to shame of sin. We need to be reminded of the full scope of what our Father has done and continues to do for us:

1. CHRIST paid an extraordinary and matchless price for us and no one would do what He did for something that is worthless and unlovable. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Galatians 3:13
2. Our Father didn’t just cleanse our shame, He also made us His own; He created us anew in His image and called us “sons”: …now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him. 1 John 3:2.
3. Now that we are His, GOD the Father expects His family to work alongside Him to fulfill His plan for His Kingdom in Heaven and on earth. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20
4. For these reasons, He has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us with His strength and guide our daily lives to live freely in His will. “…the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” Romans 8:10

These are not the actions of someone whose desire is for us to be hostage to our past transgressions and the shame of them, but rather of a loving Father who wants to be reconciled with us completely – “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 – so we can be intimately involved with Him, daily.

Well-known English preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) has this to say to the children of GOD who struggle with the shame of sin: “Are you a believer and afraid of your old sins? You are afraid of foes which do not exist. Your sins are so gone that they cannot be laid to your charge. . . . You are not only pardoned, but you are a child of God. Go to your Father with joy and thankfulness, and bless him for all his love to you. Wipe those tears away, smooth those wrinkles from your brow: take up the song of joy and gladness. …when God once forgives he forgives forever; he never plays fast and loose, and he never brings to mind again that of which he hath said, ‘I will remember it no more’... Until God can change or lie, he never will bring to mind again the sin of that man whom he hath pardoned.”

No sin is greater than our Father’s desire to forgive and our consciences can never be so stained that He cannot wash it white. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 

However, some do continue to suffer and find it difficult to break free. This is nothing but the work of the enemy, Satan, who is on overtime to keep GOD’s children from being the Father’s best, for His glory.

We are involved in a wrestling match with an adversary who doesn't want to lose. But our victory has already been won for us and we can be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

Our Father has given us specific weapons for this warfare.

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father and Sovereign LORD, whose goodness and mercy never runs out on us, we thank you for reminding us that as YOUR children, we are loved, worthy and valued; that it is not your desire or will for your children to live beneath our position of righteousness. Help us to be ever mindful of what YOU have done to redeem us from feelings that dishonor YOUR NAME – YOU gave YOUR SON. Teach us to fight for our righteousness and that we are fighting a battle YOU have already won for us. Father, we worship and adore YOU, our hope for all eternity. May we always celebrate our freedom in CHRIST and dismiss forever the myth that we can still serve YOU with shamed faces. To YOU belong all honor, dominion and power forever and ever.  We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile