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Many of our beliefs are defined by today’s society and NOT by the Bible.   I am told day after day, month after month, that I HAVE RIGHTS.   However, if we are true Christians, we know we have NO rights, except through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

We are told in Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves".   Does that sound like the world today, the selfish, self-centered society in which we currently live?

NO,   and it is a sad situation when, by the world’s definition, people treat others in a way that makes them feel shame.

I was a single mother raising two children for several years.   We began attending the local Baptist church in the little town we settled in as soon as we arrived there.   After a brief period of transition and adjustment, I soon began to participate in some of the ministries the church offered.   My children became active in the youth group and other ministries offered to children of that age group.   We began to feel "at home" and "accepted".

Just occasionally, I noticed women drawing their husbands closer to their sides as I entered a room.   I thought I was imagining this.   There were only certain people who would have my children over for gatherings.   I thought about this for a while, and then I discovered I had a big D on my chest.   Just like Hester in the Scarlet Letter.   My only sin though, was a husband who had abandoned us and a life I was forced to live on my own.

This reaction from people who should have known better created a feeling of shame in me.   It wasn’t until just recently that I was able to overcome this feeling.   Let me share with you one of the things that helped.

A very wise older woman told me that when I was feeling that way about myself, I was to repeat this phrase: "I am the righteousness of God in Christ"........"I am the righteousness of God in Christ"......"I am the righteousness of God in Christ".   She told me I was to repeat that over and over to myself until I believed it.

Do you believe you are the righteousness of God in Christ?   It IS Biblical (I Cor. I:30, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption").   We HAVE no righteousness of our own, it is only through Christ’s precious blood that we have any merit.   Are you a born again, washed in the blood, saved, going to heaven when you die believer?   Then suffer NO MORE shame, for Jesus has already taken care of that for you.

Do not let the traditions of this world try to convince you that YOU need to carry shame.   It will only make you less likely to serve God with all your heart.   If you are carrying shame, would anyone want the kind of Saviour you have?   Why would someone want an incomplete Saviour, one who could not even bear the burden of shame.   Ladies, Christ has already done that for you.   I can now accept Jesus’ death on the cross as enough to cover my shame.

I never thought I would be able to share the pain of my past, loaded with shame, with anyone else, let alone glorify God with it.   But God has gently led me to the place where I can glorify Him with my past divorce and my current "colorful", "challenging" marriage, because I have nothing to be ashamed of and everything to glorify God for.

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