Undeserved Privilege

When shame becomes louder than grace you ask for forgiveness, but avoid closeness with God. It makes you think that there’s a probationary period where you can’t mess up or God will withdrawal His forgiveness. I’ve heard this voice and experienced it many times in my life. Shame defines you by your sin and even after you’ve sought forgiveness, it reminds you over and over that you’re guilty. It wants you to believe because of what you’ve done in the past, the relationship in the future will always be fragile. In that instance, forgiveness becomes transactional instead of transformational. No matter how long you go without sinning, it wants you to believe your relationship with God is only as strong as your behavior because He’s waiting for you to mess up.

In Genesis 45, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and immediately they were terrified because of what they had done. Joseph said, “But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives” (NLT). He understood the bigger picture and forgave them, but they let shame dictate the relationship. Seventeen years later, Jacob, their father died, and the brothers were in fear. They assumed the kindness and forgiveness of Joseph was temporary. Joseph had moved past the moment and the past, but their shame held them back. They’re a picture how shame operates in our lives.

When shame is louder than grace, I remember the story of the Prodigal Son. The father ran to him, put a ring on his finger and restored sonship. The father didn’t listen to shame’s words. I also think of Romans 5:2. It says, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” We get undeserved privilege because of grace. We get a relationship with God because of grace. We get put in a place of right standing in our relationship with Him. We can look to the future instead of the past. Shames lies are meant to hold you in a prison of fear, but grace sets you free. You are a new creation, transformed by grace. You are forgiven and restored to your rightful place as an heir. This undeserved privilege isn’t something to be earned. It’s freely given by the One who offers relationship and reconciliation.

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