Isaiah 50:6-8-I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near…

Ever since we are young, good parents generally groom their children to present themselves as respectable. In appearance, manners, etc., so we learn quickly that approval many times comes from the image we present. Which is biblical in the way we “judge appearances” (1 Samuel 16:7)…

Though raising children like that, or even presenting ourselves in that way can be good. But it can cause us to think that the foundation of our approval, comes from how we present an image, and not from a heart that trust God’s love in the gospel. Because we have generally practiced being “respectable”, more than finding our confidence in the gospel. So it becomes a struggle to be rejected, disgraced, and shamed, yet still remain confident in who we are in Christ…

This however is what God expects us to have our hearts and minds renewed to. Because being humble is more rare to us than we like to admit. I believe confidence in God is seen more clearly, when we are disgraced and shamed, than when we are respected and esteemed by people. Like this passage describing the coming Messiah. His confidence doesn’t waver when disgraced, because His identity and approval is not in people’s respect, but in the God who called Him to endure the shame of their disrespect!

One of the greatest things God shows us that Jesus was delivered from, was people. There are all kinds of things God delivers His people from; drugs, poverty, ignorance, hate, etc. But one of the greatest hurdles that we might face in this life is the deliverance from people. That the foundation of love and confidence should come from what Christ did, not in what people think, nor in how they treat us.

In His Love, Ld