Escaping the Shame - Psalms 31-32 and Acts 23:16-35
When we feel shame in our lives, it hurts. Sometimes, we are ashamed because we have committed sin; we have done the wrong thing. However, many times we feel ashamed because of what someone else says about us, and what is being said is not true, or it is something we can't control. We must not let shame rule our lives. It is one of Satan's tools to destroy us, if we do not know how to get rid of it.
David felt shame because of his own sin, and he confessed his sin to the Lord. Then, God forgave his sin, and he was restored to a right relationship with God. That is the only way to deal with shame when it comes from our sin. God causes us to feel badly, so we will acknowledge our sin. We must confess it and repent of it before He can take it away, so He is doing us a big favor by causing us to feel ashamed. However, David also knew the shame of people slandering him and telling lies about him. He could not change what they said, but he could still escape that harmful feeling of shame. He asked God to deliver him from feeling shame because of what they were saying and to cause them to be ashamed. God will do that for us, if we will ask Him. He does not want us to live in shame because of what others say about us.
Paul was living in the midst of this type of situation in Acts 23. He was accused of wrong-doing that he had not committed. In fact, the enemies were plotting to kill him. They even swore not to eat, until Paul was dead. That could have caused Paul to feel ashamed, but it didn't, because he knew he was innocent before God. Then, what did God do? He delivered Paul, so they could not kill him. What was the end result? The result was that the evil men were ashamed. They did not fulfill their vow, or else they starved to death. Either way they looked pretty foolish for making that vow. They had to endure the shame of those around them. That is how God will work in our lives, if we will trust Him, confess our sins, and ask Him to take away the shame that others are trying to put on us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 33-34 and Acts 24.
David felt shame because of his own sin, and he confessed his sin to the Lord. Then, God forgave his sin, and he was restored to a right relationship with God. That is the only way to deal with shame when it comes from our sin. God causes us to feel badly, so we will acknowledge our sin. We must confess it and repent of it before He can take it away, so He is doing us a big favor by causing us to feel ashamed. However, David also knew the shame of people slandering him and telling lies about him. He could not change what they said, but he could still escape that harmful feeling of shame. He asked God to deliver him from feeling shame because of what they were saying and to cause them to be ashamed. God will do that for us, if we will ask Him. He does not want us to live in shame because of what others say about us.
Paul was living in the midst of this type of situation in Acts 23. He was accused of wrong-doing that he had not committed. In fact, the enemies were plotting to kill him. They even swore not to eat, until Paul was dead. That could have caused Paul to feel ashamed, but it didn't, because he knew he was innocent before God. Then, what did God do? He delivered Paul, so they could not kill him. What was the end result? The result was that the evil men were ashamed. They did not fulfill their vow, or else they starved to death. Either way they looked pretty foolish for making that vow. They had to endure the shame of those around them. That is how God will work in our lives, if we will trust Him, confess our sins, and ask Him to take away the shame that others are trying to put on us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 33-34 and Acts 24.