SHAME
Rom 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness
of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL
LIVE BY FAITH."
CROSS - A PLACE OF SHAME
Gal 3:10, For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is
written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF
THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is
evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12 However, the Law is
not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." 13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is
written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- 14 in order that in Christ
Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.
WE ARE TOLD TO BEAR OUR CROSSES
Mat 16:24, Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If
anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
Me.
JESUS HAD HELP WITH HIS CROSS
Mat 27:32, And as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom
they pressed into service to bear His cross.
WE ARE TO HELP BEAR EACH OTHER'S
CROSSES
Gal 6:2, Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one
examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself
alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
DO WE HELP WITH CROSSES, OR ARE WE
ASHAMED?
2 Tim 1:8, Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His
prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of
God, ... 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know
whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to
Him until that day.
BE WILLING TO BE SHAMED WITH
PEOPLE OF GOD
1 Pet 4:12, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes
upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to
the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the
revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the
name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15
By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome
meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed,
but in that name let him glorify God.
We are told that pearls are the product of pain. When the shell of an oyster is chipped
or pierced by a worm or boring parasite, a foreign substance, usually a grain of sand,
gets in. The inside of an oyster's shell is made up of a lustrous substance called nacre
(nā ker or mother-of-pearl). When a grain of sand gets into a shell, the nacre cells get
busy. They cover the grain of sand with layer after layer of nacre in order to protect the
soft body of the oyster. The result is that a beautiful pearl is formed. An oyster which
has not been hurt does not grow a pearl -- for a pearl is a healed wound.
A farmer was out plowing his field one spring morning. The spring thaw had just
occurred and there were many muddy valleys in the field. Through one particularly wet
place his tractor became stuck in the mud. The harder he tried, the deeper he became
stuck. Finally, he walked over to his neighbor's to ask for help. The neighbor came over
and looked at the situation. He shook his head, and then said, "It doesn't look good,
but I tell you what. I'll give it a try pulling you out. But if we don't get it out, I'll
come sit in the mud with ya!"
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