Unmasking Shame (2 of 6)

Mike Connell

Page 10 of 10
Most people think that you've got to get your life right before Jesus will accept you. It's definitely not true. He just wants those who know they're a leper, to come to Him. He's not ashamed to reach out and touch your leprosy. Perhaps your leprosy's pornography, maybe some bad sexual relationship, maybe an addiction, alcoholism or gambling. Maybe there's all kinds of things in your life you're so ashamed of, you don't know what to do - then you're a leper, covered with shame. But instead of holding up a sign 'unclean' and avoiding, why don't you come to Jesus Christ, and let Him reach out, and let you know you're of value to Him? You're of value to Him. Everyone around you may be communicating messages: you're damaged, you're different, you're of no value, but we are of great value to God. That's why Jesus came. It was God in the flesh, coming to communicate the message, that in spite of the shame of our condition, we're still of great value.

You are of great value. Maybe you've been put to shame by what others have said and done to you, an abusive father, critical people, teachers, life's failures, but you don't have to stay there. Whoever will come to the Lord will never be put to shame. He'll never reject you, He'll never abandon you. His commitment is a covenant-al commitment to stay with you no matter what you're facing, to keep reaching out to you, no matter how many times you fall, and to keep telling you you're of value to Me. The message most of us have carried in our life is we're not much value, and we've got to prove ourselves. We've got to work hard, get money, get this, get that, get whatever. The message Jesus brings is: I value you without any of that stuff; can you come to Me?