God Thoughts January 28th

God Thoughts January 28th

The problem then is how will you have courage to be the trailblazer, to pioneer your way forward past the relational barriers shame creates between us, barriers of fear and insecurity and people-pleasing? There is only one I know who can make us brave enough for such a task—who can give us the honor and secure belonging we desire. He is the one who made the way for us to return to God—who repaired the sin-broken trail of relationship to God through his life, death, and resurrection on our behalf. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John14:6), and then did the impossible so that we could live courageously in relationship with God and lead the way in restoring relationships with others. Jesus was excluded by all and abandoned by his friends in a time of need so that we could always be welcomed into relationship. At his greatest hour of pain and separation, even God himself turned his back on him. God’s “Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” became the one who alone cried out, “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; 27:46). God rejected Jesus in a moment of agony on the cross in order that we would be eternally embraced through faith in this sacrificed Savior. Jesus’s closest friends on earth, his disciples, abandoned him when they fell asleep during his hour of greatest need, and then fearfully fled as soon as he was arrested. Trailblazing the way to salvation was a lonely path, filled with social shame as Jesus was repeatedly rejected and abandoned. What motivated him? It was love and joy. Hebrews talks about “the joy that was set before him,” which helped him to “endure the cross, despising the shame,” and which led him to the victorious, secure place where he “is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). This throne is described no longer as a throne of judgment, but a throne of grace—where we may receive help in our time of need (Heb.4:16). And, oh, how we need help! How needy we are! We need grace to first admit how much we need it. Ephesians 2:8 says that even this is a gift of God—faith to believe in grace. And we need courage to believe we have the grace for which we ask. When you cry out to this Savior—this made-vulnerable-to-you one—he is quick to answer. There is no waiting for a response, as we must do with every other person. Even the most attentive friend, spouse, roommate, or parent is not available 24/7. God gives us the Holy Spirit through Jesus who is interceding for us even when we sleep (Rom. 8:26–27; Heb. 7:25). Jesus is ready and waiting for you to call on him. This perfect love begins to drive out your fear of shame. That’s what social shame is at its core. It is fear of being shamed, of experiencing relational rejection or exclusion.

Nelson, Heather Davis. Unashamed (p. 80). Crossway. Kindle Edition.