It’s Friday and time for Five Minute Friday again. Kate Motaung has prompted us with the word “Truth.” I could go so many ways with this, but right now there is only one I want to talk about.
The Truth of who I am.
I’ve written briefly on shame for the past week or so. It is something I am thinking about – thinking about a lot actually.
I think about how my shame keeps me from trying new things.
I think about how shame keeps me from receiving love.
I think about how shame has forced me to work harder than others – and then how it has inspired me to quit.
I think about how shame taught me that I was unacceptable to God. That because Jesus died, I should be ashamed of my behavior.
Like I wrote last week, shame is a liar. The Father of Lies speaks shame into our hearts to keep us from the truth in order to keep us from being God’s presence in the world.
Because Christians who are confident in Christ light up the world.
I am tempted to believe that I am what I see in the mirror.
I am tempted to believe that I am what I do.
But God says I am His child.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1
Think of how a parent loves her kids. Mine may make me bang my head against the wall one moment, but if they need me I am a mushy puddle right there for them. I will snuggle all day long if they want. I love them so much it hurts.
I see the best and worst in them and love them.
Shame tells us to reject ourselves.
Love says you are accepted.
When Jesus hung on the cross, it was not because he was angry or so we would be ashamed of our sin, but because he loved us. Why that is not taught more often I will never understand. It should all come back to that. We sinned and could not be separated by our sins apart from an act of God.
The cross is that act.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Loved.
That’s who I am.
God’s child.
That’s who I am.
Accepted.
That’s the truth of who I am.
Who are you?
Thanks for sharing those things about the truth of who we are in Christ! I needed to hear that today. 🙂
I’m grateful it was a blessing for you.
My favorite part is that you know the Lord has redeemed that shame- you know who you are in Him.
What a blessing.
Stopping by from the link up- thanks for visiting my blog. =)
Thanks, Meghan.
“I think about how shame taught me that I was unacceptable to God. That because Jesus died, I should be ashamed of my behavior.” This is one childhood message I’ve been wrestling with a lot lately and learning to replace with the fact that is was HIS love, not our behavior that redeems me. Thank you for sharing this today!
Hi Amy, I’m sorry you are wrestling with that false message from your childhood. The verse that helps me SO MUCH with countering this lie is Galatians 2:20 when Paul says, “He loved me and he gave himself for me.” He loves me. He gave himself. It astounds me every time.
Great post, Leah, and I love the song.
I’ve dealt with something like shame, though I would not call it that. My previous work as a security contractor (what used to be called ‘mercenary’) left me feeling like I was forever on the fringes of polite society…that I could look through the window but my experiences set me apart.
It’s not that I regret the work; it was necessary. There are bad people out there, and sometimes unconventional ways are needed to stop them. But it does leave a mark.
But not, I think, in God’s Eyes.
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-dying-spouse-312-and-there-is-joy.html