08/04/2025 – How Can we Cover our Shame?
Scripture: Genesis 2: 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Reflection: Sin has infinite consequences that bring sorrow and harm; but the first and eternal consequence of sin for the children of God is shame. This is a self-inflicted feeling of embarrassment or humiliation that arises from having done something sinful, dishonorable, immoral, or improper. Guilt is about what we have done. Shame is about who we believe we are. Self-inflicted wounds are some of the devil’s favorite weapons. Fear, despair, shame… are emotions that must be redeemed, lest they destroy us.
The peace and joy in the garden of Eden was not only the result of surroundings beyond comparison- but there was also an internal piece that was the result of the absence of shame. As we know, it did not last. Adam and Eve were the first to taste the fleeting pleasure of sin. Immediately after partaking in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, shame overwhelmed them. They realized they were naked, and they sought a way to cover themselves.
What do you do with your shame? We all have it because we have all sinned. The first instinct is to hide it- to justify our sin and to hide ourselves from God and His holiness. Shame is caused by the exposure of our sin and our sinful condition. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God to avoid facing the reality of their shame. But they could not. God found them and revealed that only Christ can remove our shame and cover it with His righteousness.