Shame can quickly cloud our perception of ourselves and our relationship with God. Yet, amid our struggles, we can rest in the liberating and game-changing truth of Romans 8:1 (NIV):
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
To be condemned means to be guilty; to deserve punishment. And shame fuels the voice of condemnation, shouting things like, “You’re guilty,” “You don’t deserve forgiveness,” “If only they saw you on your worst day!” And to be fair, without Christ, rejection and condemnation would be our story. However, that is not our story when we accept Jesus as our Savior.
Romans 8:1 reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are not defined by our past mistakes, our shortcomings, or the labels the world may place upon us. Instead, God sees us through the lens of Jesus’ sacrifice — forgiven, redeemed, and deeply loved. We are invited to view our identity through a different perspective — one that is rooted in the unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus Christ.
In Paul’s Greco-Roman culture, competition was a big deal, which we see a glimpse of in his writings in the New Testament, as he often used sports metaphors. These competitions were not only physical contests but also carried social, political, and religious weight. The most important games included the Isthmian, Nemean, and Pythian games. Athletes who lost didn’t just suffer the sting of public defeat but were also severely shamed. The Greek philosopher Epictetus, who lived from ad 50 to 135, reflected on this when he wrote:
In the [games] you cannot just be beaten and then depart, but first of all, you will be disgraced not only before the people of Athens or Sparta or Nicopolis but before the whole world. In the second place, if you withdraw without sufficient reason, you will be whipped. And this whipping comes after your training which involves thirst and broiling heat and swallowing handfuls of sand.1
Yikes! While we in modern times will probably not be whipped or forced to eat sand, many of us can relate to the pain of self-condemnation. Let this encourage you:
In Jesus, condemnation doesn’t exist.
It’s not part of the gift of salvation, nor does it follow on the heels of our missteps or sin. Freedom in Jesus is yours today, right now! No matter how heavily the weight of shame or condemnation may rest on your shoulders, it is not yours to carry.
Prayer for Your Day
God, I thank You for the freedom You have given us through sacrificing Your only Son. I often need reminding that You didn’t come to earth to punish or make us cower in the shadow of shame, but You have called us to live in Your love. Thank You that You are always for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
1. Epictetus, Discourses 3.22.52, (William Heinemann, 1969).
Excerpted with permission from Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is by Demi-Leigh Tebow, copyright Demi-Leigh Tebow.
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Your Turn
Do you walk around with a sense of shame hanging over you? You don’t have to. If you’ve taken Jesus as your Savior, He has permanently removed all shame from you! Now, you can live and walk in His love completely free from condemnation. He is for you! ~ Devotionals Daily