Shameless
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words …
Of them will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes. Mark 8:38
Read Jeremiah 17:12—17
I think in this reading I have a possible insight into the psychology of the prophet. This is valuable because he has something I dearly, dearly want: moral courage. If only I could stand when the going is unpopular and the pressure is to conform. I think I see the deep motive that braces the prophet to stand firm in the Lord. It is his fear of shame. He will stand before God and he plans not to be shamed. There is to be no disconnect between who he is said to be and who he is. So it will help me, too, to have this as an actuality in my life and as a motive force for my actions, to know what he knew, that it is before God that I will stand, and, this night, it is before God that I do stand. This will go some way toward confronting the shame thing.
Loving God, Jesus Christ the Lord has not been ashamed to call me his friend. He has given his name to me so that I can come to you. I come in him and along with him. Hold me close to him. When I am put to the test, let me remember the Lord. Let me know his strength. Let me honour you, hallow your name, have no gods before you, bear insults for you. Especially in the tense and testing times I have faced today or fear tomorrow, let me be publicly yours.