These words stood out this morning as the writer speaks to the sin that so easily and often "entangles" our lives: "scorning its shame", Hebrews 12:2.
As a father, the last thing I want my child to feel is shame, even when they err. The Roman cross was an instrument of painful shame.
When you fail, especially repeatedly, shame can once more grab hold of you, in the same way the cross was meant to horrendously and painfully display it's naked criminal's guilt.
This morning someone needs to hear that not only were your human failures foreseen by this God become flesh, their penalty paid, but also shame was scorned, once and for all!
God does not process failure as you do, but as a loving dad understands our weakness while focusing on our worth! God is for you, not against you! Even tough times are only "for your good" (12:10) a disciplined mentorship, not scorn!
Such love is hard to comprehend, unless as a loving father, even moreso as a grandfather had that moment when you looked into eyes of shame with your own offspring. That's why the Prodigal Father ran to meet and literally fell upon his son's neck, with kisses!
Get hold of this!! Shed your cloak of shame, "It is finished!"
"...fixing our 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.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV