“No condemnation in Christ is a promise, it’s permission, even a command to not condemn ourselves or others.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today –May 10, 2023
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5
My wife Rita has the most tender heart of anyone I have ever met. Her capacity for love, compassion, and caring for others is a gift from the Lord. But she will tell you that in the past, before she embraced her belovedness in Christ to the fullest extent, she would be way too hard on herself. Her loving friends would encourage Rita to stop should-ing herself into a shameful state of mind. For example, always second guessing herself with the thoughts of, I should’ve said less, I should’ve said more, I should’ve said nothing. I should’ve exercised, I should’ve not eaten that.
Or, after becoming an empty nester, she felt purposeless and would say, I should’ve done more to be more; I have nothing to offer, and I’m not important to anyone anymore. So not true! Shame has this sterilizing effect on a soul, but knowing that Jesus calls you His beloved—births life. Like Rita, release your shame and celebrate God’s rich mercy, grace, love, and acceptance of who He says you are. Pray for the eyes of your heart to be flooded by the light of the Spirit.
“And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit] so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people)” (Ephesians 1:18, AMP).
It’s beautiful to watch from a front-row seat over the last several years as the Lord’s love has moved my wife’s heart from a should’ve shame-based self-talk to a secure beloved, based self-talk. Instead of saying to herself, I should’ve… she says, Lord, what are you inviting me to be or do? Help me rest in knowing you and who you say I am. How can I be secure and present as your beloved daughter at this moment? Her precious heart escapes from the prison of shame as she rests in her belovedness and shifts the narrative in her head to a tone of mercy and forgiveness of herself and others.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… nothing in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:1, 39).
No condemnation in Christ is a promise, it’s permission, even a command to not condemn ourselves or others. Yes, the love and compassion of God, as vast as the oceans below and the celestials created above, reveals your beauty, releasing your true self! Embrace and celebrate who your Creator made you be, and rest in being uniquely you for God’s glory.
Give yourself permission to be you, a beloved daughter of the King who is enthralled by your beauty. Have fun. Get your hair done. Do a little retail therapy! Just a little, ha.
“There is a sure way for us to know that we belong to the truth. Even though our inner thoughts may condemn us with storms of guilt and constant reminders of our failures, we can know in our hearts that in His presence, God Himself is greater than any accusation. He knows all things” (I John 3:19-20, VOICE).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, flood my heart with the light of your love, so I can embrace hope and shun shame through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Make a list of who God says you are in Christ. Start by reading the first three chapters in Ephesians.
Related Reading
Job 9:20; Psalm 34:22; Isaiah 50:9; John 3:17; Colossians 2:14
Worship Resource
Kaden Slay & Melanie Tierce: You Promised
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