Undignified

Romans 1:16 says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."(emphasis mine.) Shame. When given the power, it can leave us cowarding (I think I just made up that word) in the corner, chins tucked, and eyes down with the deepest of hopes that we'll go unnoticed. Isolated and alone. Unavailable to those around us. It can steal our joy and leave us stiffened by the potential disproval of others. At times when we should be dancing in thanksgiving and in awe of who our God is, we can find ourselves with arms crossed looking down our noses at those who are. Only to pass this weary-laden, condemning liar, shame, off to taunt the next the person over. It can leave us silent when the soul beside us aches for Truth as they are desperately drowning in a sea of hurt. Shame. It can leave us searching for ways to find a covering, a quick fix, for what is naked, exposed, and vulnerable. I think of Adam and Eve, when they were first created, they were naked and had no shame. (Genesis 2:25) It wasn't until sin was chosen that shame entered the scene and suddenly they felt the need to hide and have covering. Shame- the rotten fruit of condemnation.

Turns out, in Christ, through the redemption of sin, there is again no room for shame.

Romans 8 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. As believers we can go confidently before the Father for we have an advocate in the Lord Jesus Christ and if we can go confidently before the King of Kings, who is man that we should shrink back, hesitate, or drop our gaze."

Not only should we not wear the badge of shame for confessed and forgiven sin, but also certainly not for who we are or Who we belong to. Not long ago, I was accused of behaving like a teenager(lol) as I held nothing back in full on amazement that my Heavenly Father would pluck me out of the mundane and send me to a country not my own and delight me in the most personal of ways that only my God could! Everything I could have dreamed of was set before me. I could not help but desire to be a bit undignified and free to fully experience all of it, all the while fully expressing my excitement, my awe, and my thanksgiving before the Lord! In hindsight, I think of King David, who after having danced through the city rejoicing in all the Lord had done, highly upsets his wife for such a display..."20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows [h]shamelessly uncovers himself!”21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight."

I just want to shout and say, " Yes! Please!"

Can we just be okay with being a tad bit undignified before our Lord? Undignified enough to walk in freedom of forgiveness instead of bound to the shackles of condemnation.The debt was paid for that sin, you are free. Undignified enough to bring His name up when it's perhaps not so socially kosher to do so. Undignified enough to praise His name louder and louder, while the world attempts to stuff down His worthiness. Undignified enough to pray for the broken and expect healing. Undignified enough to wrap our arms around the lonely. Undignified enough to fully embrace with overflowing gratitude the good gifts that come only from our heavenly Father. Undignified enough to take our cues from the One that goes before us in all things rather than what is visible to our eye. Perhaps... while trying to ensure that we are oh-so dignified and that all is formal and proper and that all our "i's" are dotted and our "t's" are crossed, we are stifling the very passion that Father is trying to ignite. Perhaps, we are trading an exuberant and contagious joy for a taming shame that beckons us to please the crowd instead of the King.

John 8:31 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (emphasis mine.)

May we walk in the freedom of Christ in the fullness of grace found in Him alone. May we extend that same to others and truly celebrate when another celebrates and mourn with the one mourns. May we abound in love today and extend it without condition. May you dance before your King in thanksgiving of Who He is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k, No Longer Slaves, Jonathan David & Melissa Helser