Verse of the Day 7/27

Through the Bible - Psalms 53-55, Acts 28:11-31

 

Good morning,

Yesterday's verse charged us, challenged us not to "be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ".  We also considered what it meant to be shamed and to shame others.

 

It is fitting to consider this in today's political climate.  Shaming is commonplace in society all the way up to its top leaders.  For today's verse we'll go to Hebrews chapter 12.  I had never really stopped to think about "the shame" mentioned in these verses, but it struck me and may strike you.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (New King James Version)  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

These are powerful, challenging, encouraging verses for the Christian.  They teach us to "look to Jesus" as the author and finisher of our faith, and as we considered last week, we are to imitate Him.

 

Notice what Jesus did, He despised the shame.  Picture Him going through the trial and onto the resurrection.  The course jokes, the ridicule, the beatings, the shaming that He faced.  What was His reaction, to "shame" in return?  No, He despised the shame, and instead, sought and offered reconciliation, saying "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".

 

What would happen in the political arena if people followed Jesus and "despised" the shaming and sought reconciliation?  Why go that far, what would it look like in our households, workplaces and schools?

Doing this would require us to put up with short-term pain in order to achieve long-term, eternal gain.

 

John Piper writes, "The shaming behavior against Jesus was as ugly and cruel and demeaning as it gets. But instead of letting the shame eat him up, or make him ashamed, or turn him into someone as weak and ugly as his shamers, he fixed his heart on the joy set before him. In other words, the assured triumph of his death and resurrection to save sinners and vindicate his righteousness and bring him home to God kept him from being ashamed or disobedient. When he was tempted to feel ashamed, he focused his mind on the joy set before him. He endured short-term pain because of long-term gain.

And Paul was like that. He said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel," – I am not ashamed of the message and the reality of Christ crucified for sinners and raised with power and saving all who trust in him. Why not? Because "[the gospel] is the power of God for [unto] salvation to everyone who believes." This is the same way that Jesus overcame feelings of shame when he was shamed for the gospel. Jesus looked to the joyful triumph of his cross and resurrection; Paul looked to the joyful triumph of the gospel in eternal salvation. "

One of the key weights to lay aside as we run the race is to cast aside, to do away with the shaming.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Heb 11:35-12:3

 

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented —  38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

 

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

 

The Race of Faith

 

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   NKJV