On Shame and Sin

I heard a sermon tonight that resonated with me.  From Joseph Prince Ministries:

From Psalms 69: 19-21

You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
My adversaries are all before You.
Reproach has broken my heart,
And I am full of heaviness;
I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
And for comforters, but I found none.

“[Jesus] chose to die.  When everything was finished, he breathed out his spirit.  I like Matthew’s version.  Matthew’s version says, He dismissed, in the Greek, He dismissed His spirit like a king would dismiss his royal subject.  He dismissed His spirit… and what broke His heart?  Reproach.  Shame.  Our shame.  Our reproach.  We broke his heart.  So how dare you put your head down when the Son of God bore your shame.”

From Isaiah 61:7

Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,
And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.

“And the double honor be such that, I’m telling you the truth, folks.  Sometimes there are people that I know about their past and all that, but I can’t remember anymore, and I only know they did something.  But the glory that God put on them, the favor and all that, it’s so overwhelming it swallows up whatever happened in the past.”

Joseph Prince, Ep213: Find True Fulfillment in Life.  First airing 10/6/2014

Ummm, yeah.

In that endless recognition of the synchronicity found in my life, I was also reflecting on the Casting Crowns, Jesus, Friend of Sinners song earlier today.  

Jesus, Friend of sinners
We have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name
But the sword was never ours to swing.
Jesus, Friend of sinners

The truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to you
But they're trippin' over me

Always looking around, but never lookin' up
I'm so double minded
A plank-eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided...

Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners
Break our hearts for what breaks Yours!

Jesus, Friend of sinners
The one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away
And the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember
We are all the least of these
Let the memory of your mercy
Bring your people to their knees

Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against
When we judge the wounded

But if we put down our signs, crossed over the lines
And loved like You did...

You love every lost cause
You reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame

They're the reason that You came

I was that lost cause

I was the outcast

You died for sinners just like me
Grateful leper at Your feet

Cuz You are good
You are good

And Your love

Endures forever...

Synchronicity.  Serendipity.  It's there.  I know I'll revise this post when it becomes clear exactly what it is that resonates so strongly in my Spirit.

Bless your day,
Kari