"Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything." -Luke 15:11-16

Guilt and shame kept the prodigal son from returning home to his family. Guilt admits that we've done wrong, and corrects itself through repentance. Shame takes over our joy and enthusiasm for God, and keeps us from experiencing His presence on a daily basis. Shame brings isolation and death. Shame tries to hide what we've done. It justifies and blames others for our actions. God didn't create us for shame.

Guilt says, "I messed up and I need to go to God." Shame says "I AM messed up and I have to hide from God. I need to go it on my own!" Shame takes us away God.

Scripture shares this truth -

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" -Romans 7:24

"Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." -Romans 7:25

We are DELIVERED through Jesus Christ from our shame.

"I will rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee;" -Luke 15:18 (DARBY)

"Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
-Hebrews 12:2-3

It's time to rise up. Jesus understood the power of shame and its effects on us. He took on our sin and shame to the cross on our behalf!

"because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" -James 2:13

When the prodigal son returned home, the father received him, forgave him, and gave him a new destiny. THIS is what Jesus wants to do for you!

Verses to Memorize:

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:13 NIV

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9 NIV

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." -Ephesians 2:8 NIV

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." -Romans 8:1 NIV

Let us rise up and go to our Father.