Philippians 1:20
“according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
God knows and understands us. Feeling shame and embarrassment are big negatives. Not showing respect is quite an insult to most. Paul also didn’t like it. He made big risks, as He was bold and would speak out.
Several scriptures come to mind. David prays something similar to Paul in Psalm 31:17, “Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.” God knows our hearts. It’s a fear of ours to be shamed.
David says in Psalm 25:3, “Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.” God promises us that He won’t allow us to be ashamed as we seek Him. Just like a parent would guard a child, from shame God protects us. It’s miraculous. He intervenes with people. Putting thoughts in their minds to stop them from shaming.
Quite the opposite. If we trust and follow the Lord, He not only keeps us from shame, but He honors us. Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil”. It’s as if He hosts an honor banquet for us that our enemies see.
We don’t seek our own honor and promotion. Quite the opposite. Jesus tells us what to do in Luke 14:10, “But when you are invited, having gone, recline in the last place, so that when the one having invited you might come, he will say to you, ‘Friend, come up higher.’ Then glory will be to you before all those reclining with you.” We don’t do it to be promoted, but to reach the lowly. Sometimes we get promoted, sometimes we get to be a blessing to the lowly.
He works that pride and desire for self promotion out of us. That was satan’s sin. He was seeking to promote himself above God. He lets us see how empty it is to self promote.
God, the king of the universe, the One who brilliantly created all and sustains all modeled this humility by being born in a stable and raised in a poor area of low reputation. Some would say, isn’t it shaming to Jesus to be born and raised there? No. He has a special place in His heart for the lowly and wants to be with them.
Thank You, Lord, that You are sensitive to us and won’t allow us to be shamed, if we are following You. Quite the opposite; You honor us. Thank You that You take out of us the desire for self seeking. Thank You.