Shame Can Be Good

This sample day will appear in my companion book for John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Shame Can Be Good                                                       Week Two Day One
Christian ‟saw Evangelist coming to meet him; at the sight also of whom he began to blush for Shame.” . . . Evangelist ‟began to reason with Christian” (p. 15, Barbour edition; p. 22, Moody edition).
‟Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18, KJV).
When he saw Evangelist, Christian blushed with shame. Evangelist questioned Christian who defended his departure from the prescribed way to the Wicket Gate. The advice of Worldly Wiseman seemed good at first, or at least easy. But Christian found no relief from his burden.
Evangelist’s reasoning counteracted the worldly wisdom that led Christian astray. From this experience Christian learned to hate three things: if he turns out of the Way, if the Cross seems too hard, and if someone leads him on the path of death. The emphasis remained on the Cross—to prefer that more than any treasures he could collect. All Evangelist’s teaching was saturated with Scripture from the gospels and epistles. ‟May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).
Christian asked if there was still hope for him. Evangelist neither ignored nor excused the pilgrim’s sin, but instead sent him on his way to the gate. Determination now ruled his steps.
Takeaway: Christian’s sorrow led to repentance. I think first of shame as something wrongful, but shame can lead to confession and redemption. If I admit my shameful acts I start the road to recovery and to right the wrong. I’m grateful for second chances, for even now as a senior citizen, I need hope for today’s failures and tomorrow’s fears.
Your Turn: What second chance has God given you by His grace? ________________________________________________________________________________________
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