For just a few moments, think about your past… are there parts that you would change if you could go back and get a redo? In today’s words, is there something that comes to mind that gives you the “ick?” Let’s call it what it is: Shame. According to the Oxford dictionary, shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.
Shame is such a weird thing. We all carry some form of it, whether it dates back to an old you or it is something you’re dealing with right now. We know it. What does God say about shame though?
First and foremost, it is not of God. He never intended for us to live in a cycle of shame that keeps us down. Rather, shame is something the enemy uses to keep us enslaved to the bondage of our past mistakes. God intends to use shame to help heal us and pull us closer to Him. It’s why He sent Jesus, because we cannot get to God by our own strength or goodness.
The Pharisees and Scribes were some of the most religious people of Jesus’ time. They would stand in the streets and “show” (through praying, giving, disciplining etc.) just how righteous and good they were. They were “perfect” in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. It drew hard lines in the sand for people to know who was worthy and upright and of course, who was not. I am sure folks during this time felt that humiliation and distress that we mentioned earlier. To be totally honest, we still have some people like that in the church today. But throughout Jesus’ public ministry, He shared, “...Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do…I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13).
Jesus made it very clear of why He came. In Luke 4:18, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” In other words, Christ came to bring the good news of salvation and to set the captives free.
Do you know the gravity of this news? It’s HUGE for us, the common people! Jesus doesn’t want us to clean ourselves up alone and then come to Him. He wants us to come to Him AS WE ARE, in our dirt, in our filth, in our shame, in our sickness, and in our sin. He will heal us of that bondage and darkness that we carry, because He loves us. He came for us. He died for us, and He desires a relationship with each of us.
Friends, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, what your background or ethnicity is, what political beliefs you carry, what your assumption of Christianity is (which we’re going to talk about in a few weeks), or how many times you’ve failed or slipped back into those nasty habits we all have. God still loves you.
Paul said, “…Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:11-13).
We cannot go back and relive the parts of life where we’ve failed. We cannot always make it right or fix the hurt we’ve caused. But we can put that shame down. We can let go, and we can forgive ourselves and others. We can accept the Salvation through Jesus that we’re all offered, and we can start walking in freedom today. The shame we carry is heavy. Put it down, my friend. Praying that over all of us today. Have a good weekend! Go live in the grace you’ve been given!
If you want a good song to help etch this into your heart this week, listen to Made for More by Bethel Music.
As always, if this spoke to you, please share, subscribe, or reach out at SanctifiedByLove.com/about.
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