10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” Romans 10
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, LIKE LIVING STONES, ARE BEING BUILT INTO A SPIRITUAL HOUSE TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and THE ONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM
WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” 1 Peter 2
7 NOW TO YOU WHO BELIEVE, THIS STONE IS PRECIOUS.
Both Paul and Peter tell us by the Spirit that the one who trusts in Christ WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME. (Shame implies, disappointment, dishonour, humiliation and confounding) Shame is a negative and even destructive emotion and it’s something that the enemy and the world seeks to use against believers, but SHAME IS NEVER FROM THE LORD! GOD WOULD NEVER SHAME HIS CHILDREN, but there may be times when we choose to go our own way that we can and do experience a measure of Shame.
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be dismayed/stricken with panic. Isaiah 28
Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah many centuries before His appearance and it was his prophecy that Paul and Peter, both Jews, referred to in their own writings. There are a number of prophesies in Isaiah regarding Shame
15 Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself,
the God and Saviour of Israel.
16 All the makers of idols will be put to SHAME AND DISGRACED;
THEY WILL GO OFF INTO DISGRACE TOGETHER.
17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord
with an everlasting salvation;
YOU WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME OR DISGRACED,
TO AGES EVERLASTING. (Israel, an eternal promise from God) Isaiah 45
Isaiah saw very different destinies for those who followed idols and true believers in God. Isaiah 50 includes another Messianic prophecy and rejection of Shame,
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I KNOW I WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME. Isaiah 50
One of the greatest blessings we have as Believers is that, ‘JESUS BORE OUR SHAME THAT WE MIGHT SHARE HIS GLORY’. (Derek Prince) At the cross Jesus bore the shame of all humanity and we should claim that for ourselves and not live under the cruel and destructive shame that others may seek to put on us. Claim it daily until we have it deep down in our spirits.
May the Lord help us to live shame free and as Children of the Most High God today.