The Sham of Shame

S - 1 Peter 2:4-6 (NIV): "As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.""

O - Jesus is the ultimate, primary and eternal living Stone … the rock or foundation upon which everything exists seen and unseen.  He is building, working and shaping all things into the purpose which cannot fail.  We are assigned to come to him and to trust him in all things seen and unseen.  The one who does this (comes and trusts) will never be put to shame.

A - Shame is an intimidating threat in things seen and unseen.  Its ubiquitous malevolence wants to shape, direct and warp us/me in all things seen and unseen.  God and his kingdom are NOT shame based.  The devil and his are.  In this long obedience we are engaged, this journey which has held so many twists and turns of challenge and rejection, my assignment hasn't changed and neither has the Lord or his relentless love and indefatigable labor … working everything for good.  Today I am not responsible to make something happen or to find a way to accomplish what I think is best.  I am responsible to come near and to trust (fierce personal loyalty). The one, the anyone, who does this, cannot be put to shame.  Jesus, who is light, love, life, truth, peace, power and THE living Stone, dispels the dark and ominous cloud of shame and says don't be afraid merely believe.

P - Living God,

Thank you for calling us to yourself, to trust and live out loud according to love … not that we loved you but that you loved and love us!  Jesus, thank you for being the true light that dispels the darkness of shame and disables its life altering and life maiming warp.  Thank you for being the way, making the way and staying with us in the way of being shaped into your awesome image … unto shared family likeness and purposes of the Kingdom that never ends.  I am coming to you, trusting and waiting.  I do love you back.  I am so very glad to be near you.

ALL my love,

Steve