Where shall we hide our blushing face?
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
There is much indeed in ourselves of which we have reason truly to be ashamed, and to be filled with profound self-abhorrence. We have need to be ashamed . . .
of our unbelief,
of our low thoughts of the Savior,
of our little love to God,
of our slow advance in the divine life,
of our imperfect conformity to Christ,
of the power of our indwelling sin,
of our slender spiritual attainments . . .
in knowledge,
in personal holiness,
and in heavenly meekness.
What shamefacedness should cover us, that we are so ready . . .
to compromise,
to falter,
and to halt.
How deeply humbled should we be that there still exists in us:
so much carnality,
so much love of the world,
and so much conformity to the world.
We have so little of the crucified spirit of a cross bearing Savior!
What cause of shame that, with all our profession . . .
the pulse of spiritual life beats in our souls so faintly,
the spirit of prayer breathes in us so feebly,
that we possess so little real, vital religion,
that we follow Christ at so great a distance!
We should be so filled with self-abasement . . .
that the fruits and graces of the Spirit in us are so sickly, drooping and dwarfed;
that we have so limited a measure of faith, love and humility;
that we are so defective in our patience and meekness, wisdom and gentleness;
that, with all our blossom and foliage—there is so little real fruit to the glory of our Father.
May we not, in view of all this, exclaim with Ezra, in his deep grief and humiliation for the sins of the people, "O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to You. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens!" Ezra 9:6
Oh, where shall we fly? Where shall we hide our blushing face, but in the blood of atonement—sprinkled afresh with which, we may lift up our heads and not be ashamed!