One of the worst effects of sin is shame. when Adam and Eve sinned they became shame conscious and immediately tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. humanity has been 'covering' ever since. God however provided them tunics of skin, symbolic of His plan and provision to deal with shame at the cross.Shame never comes from God because it diminishes who we are. It carries the message that 'I am wrong and therefore I am unloved, worthless and alone.'. It badly damages relationships with other people and it triggers all sorts of dysfunctional behaviours.
The plan of God however is to eliminate shame and in its place establish honour. Honour is that which esteems, builds and values worth. One of the promises that he made with Israel who had endured shame associated with captivity, was that "instead of shame you shall have double honour." (Isaiah 61:7). The phrase 'double honour' means that the privileges of the friends of God would be far greater than had been experienced formerly. God doesn't just return what was lost but He brings increase over and above what was lost. For example, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before he suffered loss. (Job 42:10)
God delights in bestowing honour. He especially delights in restoring that which sin has robbed from people. He restores peace, joy and righteousness. He promises that "all the heavenly blessings are ours in Christ" (Eph.1:3) He restores dignity and worth to sinners. All of this is the fruit of the victory that Jesus secured at the cross "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb.12:2). Jesus despised the shame associated with the cross. He was not troubled by what others thought of Him - false witnesses, derision, abandonment and nakedness. Far more important to Him was the glorifying of His Father's name. He trumped shame with honour!
We are invited to receive the same honour secured for us through His victory over shame at Calvary. The way of honour has already dealt the death blow to shame.
This blog is adapted from a message called "Double Honour" by Ross Smith, Senior Pastor of The Vine Church (16/11/14) and can be accessed by podcast from www.thevine.org.au
NEXT WEEK: Join us Sunday 9am for part 3: Jesus Honours His Bride.
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