Shame.
It’s such an ugly word.
And, we all hate it. Don’t we?
Shame is a big deal in the Word. And the fear of shame is prevalent throughout scripture. The Psalmists write regularly about it:
O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.
Psalm 31:17
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
Psalm 25: 1-3
And, the scripture that started all this:
In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.
Psalm 71:1
It seems me to that in these passages, the worst thing that could ever happen to you is in life shame.
God knew we would battle shame in knowing him, in loving him and in serving him. But, let me tell you one thing today about this folks:
The feeling of shame is a lie of the enemy.
Another word that comes to mind for me when I think of shame is embarrassment. And, believe me, I know that no one wants to feel embarrassed. The tightening of my chest and the flushed cheeks I’m getting right now make it ever so clear that embarrassment is…well…frankly embarrassing.
Is serving God embarrassing to you?
It was, and at times still is, to me. Why?
Because serving God means putting my introverted, socially anxious and awkward self out there. Out here. To you.
But, I do it to serve God.
God knows how much shame shames us. In fact, one powerful scripture from Jesus states:
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Mark 8:38
The Bible promises us there is no shame in knowing God.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those you look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Psalm 34:4-5
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
Condemnation = Shame
Stand in faith today knowing that shame does not come from our Father in Heaven but from the “Father of Lies.”
For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:11
Jesus endured the ultimate shame when he died on the cross for our sins.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (my emphasis added)
Do you have any idea how shameful being crucified was? I’ll leave that for another day.
I love y’all. Are you scared or embarrassed to serve God? May I know why? Maybe it will help me not be so scared too. Please comment below or DM me.
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