Leading The Way - Devotional for June 28
June 28, 2026
No Shame
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
Shame is a powerful and damaging emotion. Have you ever felt shame or disgrace? Have you ever been ashamed of someone else? People can be ashamed of their appearance, their social status, or their family heritage—anything that they feel is unacceptable or unattractive. Shame is what we feel when we think that something about ourselves does not measure up to the expectations of others.
Where does shame come from? It is the child of fear and the cousin of timidity. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul warns Timothy about shame. Fear and shame are closely related. When we fear what others think of us, we feel ashamed and attempt to hide our “faults” from them. Unfortunately, many Christians have allowed the world to shame them into hiding the Gospel. They feel ashamed of Biblical morality and of following God’s standards. Paul encourages Timothy, “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8).
No matter what we face, God’s power is with us. Even in the face of death, we shouldn’t let fear trap us. When Jesus died on the cross, He not only abolished death for His followers, He also abolished the fear of death. Paul outlines this Truth compellingly and indicates how it should impact our lives:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” . . . thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 57-58, emphasis added)
While we will all experience physical death, those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have the joy of anticipating eternal life with Jesus. We should feel honored to endure hardships for Christ—even death: “[I]f you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:16).
Prayer: Father, may I never be ashamed of the Gospel. May I remember that I am Yours even in death. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Never Give Up, Standing for the Gospel: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW
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Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
