“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
– Ephesians 2:8-9
 I think the greatest barrier to faith today is shame. Shame likes to tell us that we are not worthy of love and belonging. That we need to prove ourselves. Shame is a constant sense of deep embarrassment about something in our lives. We’re embarrassed that we’re not where we wanted to be, that we continue to with sin or failure, or that we haven’t succeeded in the way that my peers have. Shame feels like strictness, rigidity, and fear, and faith is the opposite of that. Faith says that despite my shortcomings, my justification is not in me, it’s in Jesus. I’m not righteous because of what I’ve done, I’m righteous because of what Christ has done for me. And when He died on the cross, He said it is finished, and He meant it. Now we can come boldly before the throne of God, redeemed, forgiven, and loved by grace through faith. You receive God’s unending, unmerited favor and love for you by faith. Just believe it and watch heaven open up to you. |
Prayer
Help me let go of my shame, God! Thank you for your unending grace. Through you, I have to freedom to live. Give me faith.
Reflection
Are you holding onto shame?
3 Responses
A great inspiration for the start of a new and glorious day theLord has given us
Hi Bobby! You are so like your Grandfather! Thank you for the message! I assure you it was timely
God Bless You!
This is a conversation that speaks to some of the bad days I have had and mistakes that I have made. I do not have everything yet some do. I always say that your church is better, the television show was groundbreaking and your grandfather was a wise old man.