Have you ever been ashamed of something you've done? I know I have, and it's the worst feeling ever. You want to hide under the covers and hope that no one knows about your awful deed.....and the urge to berate yourself, over and over, is strong. How could I do that? I will never forgive myself. Then there is shame that goes far deeper: I'm not worthy of any love, any respect, at all. I'm a worthless human being.
God's people experienced this emotion. In I Peter 4, we learn about the culture of shame that the Jews experienced. When they broke God's commands (and yes, they did, and often, just as we do) they felt deep shame. No amount of sacrificing, no amount of guilt offerings, could cover up their sins.
God had a better way: salvation through his Son.
"Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (v. 10).
All of our good works will be for naught without God's grace. We all know that, but do our lives reflect that truth? Do we beat ourselves up when we fall short of God's expectations? Look at what Peter says in verse 6:
"the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
The way out of the culture of guilt and shame is through the Cross. During this Lenten season, take time every day to thank God for the gift of his Son, Jesus. Yes, ask for forgiveness when you sin. And then rejoice in this gift of eternal life that you don't deserve; that you can't ever 'earn.' And remember these words of encouragement and grace in verse 9:
You are a chosen people [yes, YOU!], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
If you can, take in a sunrise this week. (Especially if you can watch it over a lake or an ocean - truly a challenge in central Ohio). It is truly magical to see the arc of the sun burst over the horizon, and the darkness is erased by the bright light of the sun. Don't stay in the darkness - enter His light.
