God Turns Our Shame Into His Glory

Church Family: Do you ever feel the weight of shame from something in your past? Do you feel that God could never set you free from that shame? Do you feel like God would never use you in His kingdom work because of your history?

The story of the Apostle Paul reminds us that God cares for the shamed through Jesus Christ. Jesus has come to cover your shame through His gracious cleansing, healing and forgiving power. In Christ, freedom from the paralyzing effects of sin and shame is real and it is eternal.

The Apostle Paul had reason for great shame. Paul would be a felon today, responsible for many murders, several life sentences and probably on death row. He was a stalker and killer of Christians. Paul has a bloody murderous history. His history is enough to produce great shame and disgrace that would destroy any hope of future good when God comes pursuing him. However, one day when Paul was on his way to kill more Christians (Acts 9), Jesus shows up in Paul’s life to remove his sin and shame and give him a purpose. Paul even reminds Jesus, at their first meeting, of his great sin but Jesus does not acknowledge Paul’s history (Acts 22:17-21). When Paul tries to bring up his past, Jesus ignores his efforts as though his past had never happened. Jesus had made Paul completely holy and righteous - his past was removed from him as though he had never sinned.

Jesus’ response to Paul’s shame rests in His sovereign knowledge that Paul’s life, from before the creation of the world, the good and the bad, had been providentially designed. Paul became who he was, through the good and bad, so that God could use him to do exactly what God had for him to do in the most effective way. For the same reason Paul has a history, so do you. You have a history to be used for God’s glory as you do what God calls you to do. God prepares you in unusual ways for very specific and unusual work. You do not create who you are, God does. Don’t run from your history. Run to Christ with your history, He wants to use it in a powerful way, for His glory.

Paul before Christ:
Acts 9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord...

Paul with Christ:
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God...

See you Sunday - shameless, Steve