Shame

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9)
Shame. It's been around a long time - since the Fall.  its a matter of what we are ashamed of.  Faith in Christ defies all false shame.  There is nothing shameful in admitting you are a sinner.  There is nothing shameful in declaring that you trust in Christ as your Savior.  The shame comes in when we try to hide our sin or the salvation Christ has provided. To take up the cross is a public display of identification with Christ.  The concept of "following" here denotes an all-out commitment and devotion to the one being followed. And to deny oneself is simply to take yourself out of first place to follow another.  It is a denial of all selfishness, self-sufficiency and self-righteousness.  It's no shame to do so.  So, are we ashamed of anything today? Should we be? Take all shame to the Savior. He specializes in "despising the shame" and taking care of what really brings it.