The Two Sides of Shame
Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments.
Psalm 119:6
that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”
– John Newton (1725-1807)
TAKING IT IN
You might remember when basketball star Kobe Bryant was charged with the sexual assault of a 19-year-old hotel worker in Eagle, Colorado. Soon after the incident, with his wife Vanessa at his side, he denied the assault charge. But he confessed, in tears, to having sexual contact with the woman. The statement included the words: “…I sit here before you embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery…”
Shame is a word that reminds us of disgrace, embarrassment and humiliation. In our Scripture today we learn that the Bible teaches a two-fold truth about shame and it’s important that we know and walk in both truths.
In Genesis 2:25 we learn that before sin entered the lives of Adam and Eve, they were both naked and were not ashamed – but shame quickly came with sin and it always does.
As the days grow darker and sin becomes more evident in the world around us, we witness the lack of shame. Culturally we see that the way to avoid guilt and shame before God is to deny His existence or His authority over our lives. When a person’s conscience is no longer impacted by guilt or shame, they become lewd in their attitude and behavior; but our real shame before God can be a powerful influence to help us see we can never measure up to His standard and draw us to confess and repent before Him.
Read Psalm 71:1-3. How does the truth of these verses encourage you in what you are learning today?
MAKING IT MEANINGFUL
The path to an unashamed life is focused on looking into all of God’s commandments.
The couple who honors the Lord in their marriage never has to be concerned with the shame of having their adultery exposed. The teenager who steals never has to bear the shame of being caught “red handed”. The single woman who avoids every hint of sexual immorality never has to worry about the embarrassment of a pre-marital pregnancy. The believer who lives a double life never has to worry about being exposed as a hypocrite, a liar, or a fraud.
It would be great if we could go through life without sinning, but the question is not if we will sin, but when we will sin. Shame is a healthy response and is dealt with as we quickly confess. But once we confess, shame is no longer appropriate.
WORKING IT INTO MY HEART
Guilt and shame are inevitable, even for the most obedient followers of Jesus Christ. We will sin, and if our heart is right, our sin will cause shame, and rather than run and hide we will trust in the Lord Jesus and take our sin and shame straight to Him, as it says:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
How often we as sinners turn to passages like Psalm 51 to find comfort in times of sin and shame before the Lord. Praise Jesus that He is our Advocate, and the way back to fellowship and peace with God. Praise God that Jesus carried our shame on theCross of Calvary.
Let me ask you: would it not be better to have our eyes fixed on God’s commandments and our ways kept diligent and steadfast so that we would not be put to shame before Him? I think that God thinks so. I know I think so.
One of the strongest weapons the Christian has, especially against the enemy of our souls, is a clean conscience. Our accuser will use guilt and shame not to take us to the Lord but away from the Lord, and would render us useless for the kingdom. When we sin we go to God and seek His mercies. But better yet is not to sin!
Take some today to consider “shame” in your life.
Is your sin keeping you in a place of humility before God? Is it working for the good to reveal your need for God? Or is your “shame” keeping you from knowing you are forgiven? Do you need to receive the forgiveness Christ has won for you on the cross?
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Thanks, Margy, for this good Word! Fits in perfectly with our sermon yesterday on Integrity – doing the right thing when no one is looking.
Blessings to you today, sister!