Ashamed?

Do you get embarrassed?

I do.

When I was younger, it was uncontrollable.

Certain situations or things I heard or saw would cause me to feel embarrassed.

It was embarrassing to be embarrassed, especially when others noticed it and often would make fun of me.

Even now as I'm older, I think of things I said or did in the past that weren't right and I'm ashamed.

I think of things that I want to do, some good things I believe, and because I haven't done them yet, I also am embarrassed.

Am I the only one?

How about you?

Maybe embarrassment comes because we expect more from ourselves and we fail to deliver.

Perhaps we need to get our eyes off ourselves.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Paul wrote, I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile [non-Jew]. Romans 1:14-16

Jesus said, Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26

John wrote, And now, dear children, continue in Him [Jesus], so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. 1 John 2:28

The Bible states that we've all done and said things that fell short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! Romans 6:21

Let's take His promises of forgiveness and cleansing and start fresh --

Jesus said to His first disciples and to us if we believe,

"You are already clean because of what I have said to you. Stay joined to Me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to Me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without Me." John 15:3-5

John wrote, If we say we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, He can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 1 John 1:8-9

God the Father has done a complete work to "unembarrass" us through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

God our Savior showed us how good and kind He is. He saved us because of His mercy, and not because of any good things we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us His Spirit. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

So, if we believe, we can be confident that we don't have to be ashamed.

As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in Him [Jesus] will never be put to shame." Romans 10:11

Your thoughts?

R. Jason