Monday, May 6, 2024

Can you remember a time in your life when a parent or adult shamed you? Maybe you begged and begged, hoping they would find favor with you instead of taking something away, criticizing you, or making you feel insignificant. Perhaps you would have done anything to avoid feeling that shame again.

We tend to view our relationship with our Heavenly Father in a similar way. We feel shame about the things we’ve done and don’t want God to be disappointed or punish us. The burden becomes so heavy that it leads us away from God, or even prevents us from seeking him for the first time.

This religious game is based on our misconceptions about what God wants from us, but his grace doesn’t work that way. It frees us from playing the game altogether. Grace is a gift that we don’t deserve—a favor from God. Not because we have done enough good for God to like us, but because God created us and wants a relationship with us, his beloved children.

This is the Good News and the hope that we have as Christians. We cannot save ourselves. It is only through Jesus' death and resurrection that we can come to the Father and experience his grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

We are saved by God’s grace when we believe. We cannot boast about receiving it, because we didn’t do anything to earn it. It is offered out of God’s unconditional love for us.

This is a reminder that you don't have to beg God to like you or to have a relationship with him. He is not tallying how often you fail, nor does he want to shame or punish you when you do. There is no need to avoid him out of fear—because you are already forgiven—and he delights in you when you seek him out to know him more.

Zephaniah 3:17
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Questions:
Are you suffering from a past shame that is preventing you from seeking out or developing a relationship with God?

Are you still playing the religious game, trying to earn God’s favor and avoid his shame? Are you ready and willing to live from God's grace because you believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior?

Next Steps:
Fully accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, if you haven’t already.

Surrender your shame to God in prayer, and ask that he calm your fears.

Do something that gives you delight in God.

Prayer:
Jesus, you are both Lord and Savior. To accept that denies me of my religion. I do not have to live in shame to be in your presence. Let grace abound in me, Lord. I live from your grace, not in trying to earn your favor. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

This post was written by Becca Roberts, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.