not ashamed | Kristi's Morning Devotional

In yesterday’s blog we talked about the God of the second chance. I had one reader comment that she was glad He is also the God of the third chance as well. How very true!

In fact, our God provides us with infinite mercy and grace. He never runs out of compassion and so His forgiveness extends for the sum of our days. He will never wake up one morning and say enough is enough. His love never fails and never ends.

Now that’s good news!

Have you ever seen a person who feels defeated? The signs are pretty evident; head down, shoulders drooped and they find it hard to look anyone in the eye. They are discouraged; hope seems to be destroyed. They maybe ashamed or feel they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. It’s a horrible place to be.

Maybe you’ve been there. I know I have. Many in the Bible had been there too. Peter is the first one to come to mind. He had served side by side with Jesus for three years. He was the Lord’s biggest defender when the crowds would criticize. He was impetuous, quick to respond (sometimes without thinking) and he was determined to be the Lord’s right hand man.

But one night around a fire, when confronted by a young servant girl he denied even knowing Jesus. That was a cowardly act but it didn’t end there. In the span of a few hours he had voiced his denial two more times. After the third Jesus looked at him but never said a word. Peter was heartbroken. Ashamed. I’m sure Peter left head down and ashamed.

Perhaps you can relate. There are things in all our lives that we are ashamed of and don’t want anyone to know.

Yet, after Jesus’ resurrection he came to Peter, meeting him on the sea shore and Jesus asked Peter to profess his love. Nothing was said about the denial. Jesus lifted the shame and told Peter he wanted him to be a shepherd to “new lambs”, the new believers, who would follow Christ.

A few weeks later we find Peter preaching to the crowds. Head lifted, shoulders back, standing tall and boldly proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah. Even when he was beaten and thrown into prison he did not falter. A complete transformation.

The Lord doesn’t want us going about with our heads down. He wants us to be like Peter. He wants us to be dependent on Him and drawing from His strength.

“Many are saying of me, “There is no help for him in God.” ³But You, O Lord, are a covering around me, my shining-greatness, and the One Who lifts my head. ⁴I was crying to the Lord with my voice. And He answered me from His holy mountain.” Psalm 3:2-4 NLV

If your head is bowed in shame, pray! Ask for forgiveness and receive the Father’s mercy and grace. After you say Amen, lift your head and stand tall.

“Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us. ²By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NLV

Some years back Billy Joel wrote a great song that Garth Brooks recorded, Shameless.

When I read the lyrics I make it the prayer of my heart, an expression of love to the Father and believe it or not, I can hear the Father singing those lyrics back to me. His love for me is Shameless.

“ Well I’m shameless When it comes to loving you, I’ll do anything you want me to, I’ll do anything at all…You see in all my life I’ve never found What I couldn’t resist, what I couldn’t turn down. I could walk away from anyone I ever knew, But I can’t walk away from you. And I’m shameless…”

God is always there; when we succeed and when we fail. He doesn’t abandon or desert us in the rough times! He is always there to hold us close, pick us up when we fall and lift our burdens. His love for us is Shameless.

When we’re embarrassed or have lost our way the Lord is the “lifter of my head”. Someone who is embarrassed finds themselves looking down, not making eye contact but God takes His loving hand, cups it under our chin and lifts our head.

“³But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3

With head lifted up, the first thing we do is look into the loving eyes of our Father. He, more than likely, has a smile on His face; accepting, inviting, understanding and forgiving. He is there to be a shield for us.

“I come to you, Lord, for protection. Don’t let me be ashamed. Do as you have promised and rescue me. ²Listen to my prayer and hurry to save me. Be my mighty rock and the fortress where I am safe. ³You, Lord God, are my mighty rock and my fortress. Lead me and guide me, so that your name will be honored.” Psalm 31:1-3

When we put our hope and trust in the Lord, depending upon Him for His direction and His protection we will have no need to be ashamed. We are secure in His love and it really won’t matter what anyone else says about us or thinks about us. We are the apple of His eye.

“I went to the Lord for help, and he listened. He saved me from all that I fear. ⁵If you look to him for help, he will put a smile on your face. You will have no need to be ashamed. ⁶As a poor, helpless man I prayed to the Lord, and he heard me. He saved me from all my troubles.” Psalm 34:4-6 ERV

Take a look at the times that Jesus showed “shameless” love to folks in the Bible. The first one that comes to mind is the woman who was caught committing adultery. She was dragged by her accusers through the streets to Jesus. She was shamed publicly.

“The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. ⁴Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. ⁵The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?…

Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” ¹¹“No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” John 8:3-5, 10-11 CEV

Then there was the time when an leper encountered Jesus and asked to be healed. This man’s life was void of human touch because the laws of the day prohibited him from having contact with anyone. He was unclean. It was shameful!

“As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. ²Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.” ³Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.” Matthew 8:1-3 CEV

Jesus was not ashamed to associate with this man, to touch him, to heal him. Jesus was shameless!

Just one more example – there are so many. But this is the story of a man who was a crooked “IRS” agent, a tax collector. He wanted to see Jesus but he was too short to see over the crowd so he climbed a tree to get a better look. He was hated by society. His action of climbing the tree opened him to even greater ridicule. It was shameful.

“Jesus was going through Jericho, ²where a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich. ^3-4Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.” ⁶Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus.

⁷Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.”

⁸Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.” ⁹Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham. ¹⁰The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” Luke 19:1-10 CEV

The shameful actions of a tax collector were changed that day because of the SHAMELESS love of God’s Son!

Let’s take a close look at our lives. What things have we done that are shameful? What is it that has us looking down? Jesus came to lift our head – to provide forgiveness and restoration.

I’m going to close with one more verse.

“Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God’s children to be saved and to share in his glory. ¹¹Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:10-11 CEV

God’s love for us is absolutely SHAMELESS!

Tag: not ashamed

Lift Up Your Head

Shameless