The Spirit's Expulsion of False Shame

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” — ROMANS y, 5.

see HE great difficulty with which early @y Christianity had to fight was a false shame. It was on the unpopular side, and youth does not lke to be unpopular. The rising generation was in the minority; it was ashamed of its own hopes. How was the Christian hope to be lifted out of this shame? Paul says it could only be done in one way — by the coming into the heart of the spirit of love. And truly Paul is right. Love is the only conqueror of shame. A conviction may penetrate my intellect and yet I may shrink from avowing it. But when it is “shed abroad in my heart” all shame ‘vanishes. When love comes I lift up my head before the world. The unpopularity of the cause becomes to me its glory. Love

THE SPIRIT’S EXPULSION OF FALSE SHAME. tai

longs for sacrifice and the unpopularity presents the sacrifice. Love struggles to pour out its treasures, and the poverty of its object supplies its need. It glories in its chain, it rejoices in its tribulation, it exults in its humility. It would not give up its cross for the crown of a king or the robe of a seraph. It would not resign its burden of another’s care though it were offered in exchange the wings of an eagle to mount and not be weary. It finds its highest pride in flying downwards; it ‘maketh not ashamed.”

Spirit divine, shed abroad in my heart the love of Jesus. Create within me that perfect love which maketh not ashamed. Inspire me with the power to follow Him into these lowly places where He delights to dwell. Impel me to go down with Him into the regions that sit in darkness, to accompany Him into the valley of the shadow of death. Help me to lift His cross in the face of the universe, to carry His burden in the sight of all mankind. Enable me to see the majesty of His crown of thorns. Let me feel the glory of being with Him in the solitude of Gethsemane, of watching when others sleep, of standing when others flee. Let me learn the privilege of pouring the costly ointment on that wounded head that was wreathed with the sorrows of humanity. When Thou hast shed abroad the love of Him in my soul I shall not be ashamed to hope for the. outcasts whom He bore