Shame on Shame

shame

/SHām/ 

noun

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1.    a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

S - "O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame …  Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame; for I take refuge in you …  I wait for you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:2-4, 20-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

O - Life and the Scriptures confirm that our way of thinking and doing things and the Lord’s way of thinking and doing things are very different. His ways are his own and he asks us to follow; confidently relying on his person and presence. The earliest and closest followers of Jesus discovered that this difference in thinking and living covered everything from daily bread to demons, from money to enemies. The result was an ongoing oscillation between terror and amazement. It required the courage to wait; to not take the lead; to risk and to face the very real possibility of shame. The words of David recorded above reflect this very real dynamic. 

A - Shame, and the dread of it, is a powerful force trying to shape our thinking and living. It wants to determine my actions and responsibilities. It presents itself as the way to avoid the very shame it threatens. It wants me to trust myself and take the lead. Heaven is hoping I won’t. It wants me learn the ways/paths of the Lord.  It wants me to know by experience that the one who trusts in the Lord will never be put to shame. Jesus describes it this way: "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." I’ll accept and pursue the change of thinking and living Jesus inspires and requires. 

P - Lord in heaven and on earth,

I admit that all these years later the fear of shame can still find me with its intimidating threats. Even so, you’ve never let a trial, circumstance or enemy produce the shame predicted. Not only so, you have revealed yourself, your ways and limitless capacities to work everything for good. I welcome you to shape and determine my actions and responsibilities.

Amazed,

Steve

God’s Heart and Mine

S -"Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. … for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness." Psalm 26:1,3 NIV

O - Religion teaches that an unfaltering and blameless life is based on one’s performance; obedient, not sinning, living. Clearly this was not the experience of the author of this Psalm. In fact, David has some very huge failures all along the way of his 40 year reign. Yet, even at his worst and monumental failures he ultimately turned to and trusted in the Lord. What made him the "man after God’s heart" was not a faultless performance but a relentless confidence in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. 

A -  This is the exact coaching Jesus gives to Peter and the other ambassadors. His response to their looming failure of abandonment and public denial was "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Have confidence in God and have confidence in me." Blameless living is confident reliance on him, on his relentless love and defiant mercy at my worst and at my best. Yes to blameless living! 

P - Lord God Almighty,

Thank you for loving us first, most and for refusing to change your mind - even when we give you reasons to. Each day I want to trust and not falter … to be always mindful of your unfailing love and to rely on you and your faithfulness. I want to inspire and encourage this blameless living in all you bring my way.

Loving you back,

Steve